A pensioner who turned up hoping to meet a 14-year-old girl for sexual activity has been jailed.
David Coldwell, 71, thought he was grooming a child but in fact he had fallen into a trap laid by paedophile hunters, who set up a decoy profile posing as a girl called Amy.
After engaging in sexual chat, Coldwell arranged to meet her but was intercepted by members of Dark Justice, who called the police. Newcastle Crown Court heard it was in June 2020 that Coldwell made contact with the Amy profile on an app and was told she was 14 years old and nearly 15. They exchanged dozens of messages and the conversation soon turned sexual.
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Lee Fish, prosecuting, said he made reference to her having sex for the first time and he added: "He advised her to have sex with someone older and to make sure they knew what they were doing."
Within a few hours of talking to her he suggested she carry out a sex act on herself and invited her to visit him when she was a bit older. Mr Fish said: "He clearly knew this was improper because he told her she needed to keep it quiet.
"The idea he wanted to wait until she was older didn't persist, on the same day he invited her to come over the following week."
The chat moved to WhatsApp and for the next four weeks there were regular exchanges in which sexual matters were discussed and he made comments such as "you can be an adult now" and "I wish you were older".
He went on to say he would be her boyfriend but warned her "you can't tell anyone though". When told she was going in the shower he said "enjoy the shower and I will enjoy the image, send me a pic when you come out".
The court heard the pensioner, of Raby Street, Gateshead, also said: "I want to kiss you. I know I shouldn't but I really do."
He went on to arrange to meet her but was intercepted by Dark Justice. Having initially denied the messaging had been sexual, Coldwell went on to plead guilty to attempted sexual communication with a child and attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming.
Judge Amanda Rippon jailed him for 14 months and said: "There was persistent grooming of what he thought was a 14-year-old girl. He blames everyone but himself and has no insight into his offending. I think he is fed up because he was caught but there's no remorse."
The judge told Coldwell: "Without a doubt you intended to commit a sexual offence against a girl you thought you were meeting. Fortunately, there was no girl, only a decoy."
As well as the prison sentence, he must sign the sex offenders register and will be subject to a sexual harm prevention order for ten years.
Tony Cornberg, defending, said: "It seems to be the product of boredom, loneliness and isolation and perhaps desires that he doesn't want to face up to. His drinking has been problematic.
"His offending has been nipped in the bud because he has not gone on to commit any contact offence."
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