Nottinghamshire sex offender is snared by undercover police
The 50 year old from Sutton-in-Ashfield was caught in an online chatroom
A sex offender was exposed by an undercover police officer after attempting to send explicit images to a 13-year-old girl.
Paul Radford, 50, met his target in an online chatroom in June 2024.
He then sent her sexually explicit messages and photos and requested them back.
During their conversations, he was told that the girl was 13.
Unbeknown to Radford, he was engaging with an undercover officer from elsewhere in the country.
Nottinghamshire Police were alerted to Radford’s online behaviour and arrested him at his home address on 11 July 2024.
His devices were then examined, and six indecent images of children were discovered.
These included two ‘category A’ images - the most severe classification of indecent images of children.
Radford, of Institute Street, Sutton-in-Ashfield, subsequently pleaded guilty to one count of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, and three counts of possession of indecent images of a child.
Appearing at Nottingham Crown Court on Tuesday (23 September), he received an 18-month jail sentence, suspended for two years.
Radford was also made the subject of a ten-year sexual harm prevention order and was placed on the sex offenders’ register.
Detective Constable Richard Cashmore, of Nottinghamshire Police, said:
“Radford’s actions were utterly deplorable, and it was thanks to the fantastic work of officers that he was exposed.
“Children and young people all over the country use chatrooms and social media sites every day, and it’s our duty to keep them safe.
“This can involve a variety of tactics - sometimes clandestine in nature, which is what Radford unfortunately discovered.
"I hope this also acts as a warning to other sex offenders who are thinking of engaging in this type of activity that they will be caught and face the consequences of their actions.”