Catching Predators - A Metro Exclusive Investigation
An undercover investigation by Metro Radio's Micky Welch has now led to the conviction of TWELVE paedophiles
Almost 30 suspected predators have been arrested as part of the investigation into dating sites.
Over the last 18 months Metro Radio and Cumbria Police have worked closely to catch the suspects.
The men were only caught after Micky posed online as a 14 year-old schoolgirl.
The techniques he used have now been adopted by Cumbria Police. DCI Rob O'Connor from the force told us they are now forerunners when it comes to catching online predators:
"The information which was passed on from yourselves identified some internet dating sites and from the information you gave us, we've seen some considerable success.
Convictions - UPDATED April 2015
John Fife, 39, Fell Close, Grange-over-Sands (Cumbria) JAILED Three years. Fife pleaded guilty to four counts of attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity. He also admitted a drugs cultivation charge, 18 cannabis plants having been found at his home after he was arrested.
Andrew Garth, 60, Hainsworth Drive, Bradford, JAILED Two years, eight months. Charged with ‘adult attempt to meet girl under 16 following grooming’, and 17 counts of ‘attempt to cause/incite a girl 13-15 to engage in sexual activity’
Keith Fagan, 56, Devonshire Road, Belmont, Durham JAILED Three Years. Six counts of attempting to incite under 16-year-old girls to engage in sexual activity
Howard Blackburn, 27, of St Leonard's Court, Cockermouth, JAILED four years, sex offenders register for LIFE. Five counts of attempting to cause or incite a child to engage in sexual activity and one of attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming.
Lucasz Lisakowski, 30, of Swan Street, Longtown (Carlisle), JAILED two years eight months, causing/inciting a girl under 16 to engage in sexual activity and meeting a child following sexual grooming.
Michael Wilkinson, 47, of Manor Grange, Lanchester, County Durham, JAILED eight years eight months, sex offenders register for LIFE. Three counts of attempting to incite or encourage a child to engage in sexual activity, plus one charge of making an indecent photograph of a child
Thomas Young, 24, of Jackson Street, Workington, **JAILED **18 months, 10 years on sex offenders register. Three counts of grooming a child.
John Wilson, 60, of Bollam Terrace, Kirkby Stephen. Three year community order, three year supervision order, and an indefinite Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) - grooming a child
David Harrison, 59, of Guilford Crescent, Carlisle. Three year community order, five years on sex offenders register - grooming a child
Andrew Roberts, 30, of Rudds Court, Whitehaven. Three year supervision order. Five years on the sex offenders register. Barred from working with children and vulnerable adults. – grooming a child
Steven Williams, 34, of Clayford Way, Liverpool. 18 month prison sentence, suspended two years, sex offenders register for 10 years – grooming a child
One 50 year old man from Stockport was found guilty of grooming a child, he was given a three year community order and placed on the sex offenders register for five years
Children's charity the NSPCC gave us their reaction to the investigation. David Tucker says some of these apps can be a "free-for-all" for online predators.
"It is something that we're aware of, the main problem is that there are predatory males out there trying to pick up young girls. There is no moderation, no age verification (on these apps) and there are dangers that come with that, your investigation has been very effective in highlighting them"
You can hear more from Micky below: