Man sentenced over suggestive messages with decoy posing as girl

Gareth Lee believed he was chatting with a 14-year-old girl, but was in fact communicating with a decoy using an alias.

The messages, which spanned around five weeks, were described as containing "a lot of sexual innuendo" and included requests for images, though none were explicitly sexual.

Lee, who was described as "very immature" and "isolated", was convicted at Liverpool Crown Court of attempted sexual communication with a child on June 23 this year, following a trial.

During Lee's sentencing hearing heard on Monday, August 24, judge Denis Watson KC said: "Over a period of about five weeks, the defendant was communicating with a decoy saying she was 14.

"There were generally suggestive messages and the soliciting of images.

"You are 39 and, in my estimation, having read what I have in the pre-sentence report and having seen you over the course of the trial, you present as a very immature individual and an isolated one, as well."

The judge explained that while the messages were suggestive, they lacked more graphic content.

He said: "Perhaps being absent some of the more direct and graphic suggestions.

"The chat was a little more guarded than that."

Lee had no previous convictions.

Bernice Campbell, defending, described her 39-year-old client as "incredibly immature" despite his age.

Ms Campbell said: "He is quite childlike, his communication with others is very limited.

"He still works and just received an award for 20 years' service at a factory distribution centre.

"He plays electronic games, and this communication is something he needs to learn to never do again.

"I am asking for a community order to deal with such stupidity and immaturity.

"He needs to know this is inappropriate, it is not the right thing to do.

"He is embarrassed that he is in court, he is ashamed he brought this on himself."

Judge Watson said the paedophile hunter group had given Lee "a number of chances to do more than flirt," but said that "over the course of time, that is predominantly what happened."

Taking into account Lee’s work record, lack of previous convictions, and the contents of the pre-sentence report, Judge Watson said he was "entirely satisfied that it is appropriate to reduce" the starting point of the sentence.

Lee, of Davies Avenue, Newton-le-Willows, was sentenced to a two-year community order, including 200 hours of unpaid work and 25 days of rehabilitation activity.

He was also made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for five years.

Lee was ordered to pay £1,800 towards the cost of the trial at a rate of £150 per month.

A deprivation order was also made for the device used in the offence.

As the sentence was handed down, Lee said: "Your honour, thank you very much," and bowed his head before leaving the dock.