A 56-year-old pervert who thought he was speaking to a number of 13-year-old girls was actually talking with fake profiles operated by 'online vigilante groups'.
Christopher Kelly, of Cranbook Street, Radcliffe, was arrested in September following reports from multiple groups that they had been communicating with him using fake profiles of different 13-year-old girls, Minshull Street Crown Court heard.
Kelly, who was already subject to a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) at the time of the offending, has been jailed for two years after admitting to using the internet to contact girls under the age of 18. He also pleaded guilty to breaching the SHPO.
Following Kelly's sentence, Detective Constable Adam Gosling of the Complex Safeguarding Team, Bury division, said: “Kelly’s actions are deplorable and completely unacceptable. The safety of our children is a top priority of GMP, and I hope this result sends a stark warning to offenders that these behaviours will not be tolerated.
“I would encourage anyone who has been affected by this case to please come forward and tell us what happened to you. We will listen and take your allegations seriously. Victims should not feel they are at fault when they are preyed on by offenders. GMP will do their utmost to thoroughly investigate all reports of this type of crime and bring the perpetrators to justice."
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