Locations
Westbury, Wiltshire, BA13
Description
A 56-year-old man from Westbury has been jailed after admitting sexual communications with a child and attempting to meet them - compounding his offending by breaching bail conditions imposed by the court.
Swindon Crown Court heard how Philip Burgess sent sexually explicit messages online, to someone he believed to be 14-years-old.
Having been arrested and subsequently bailed for the offence in February 2024, he committed further offences and was further arrested for breaching his conditions. An interim Sexual Harm Prevention Order was imposed on him.
He was charged for these offences in November 2025, and while awaiting sentencing, Burgess was arrested and charged for breaching his Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
Burgess was charged with the following offences: two counts of attempted sexual communications with a child, inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, attempting to meet a child following grooming, and breach of a sexual harm prevention order.
Appearing before court on Friday 27th March, he was given a total of 57 months imprisonment, barred from working with children and vulnerable adults and ordered to pay a £228 surcharge.
Detective Constable Daniel Jackson said:
“Burgess has clearly shown his intent to cause sexual harm to children, along with his disregard for any conditions imposed on him, we welcome this custodial sentence by the court.”