Sending indecent messages and images to decoy 14 year old girl.

Preston Man Escapes Prison Sentence for Online Child Sex Offences

A 43-year-old Preston man, Anthony Stewart, has escaped a prison sentence after being caught in a sting operation by paedophile hunters. Stewart, from Deepdale, was found guilty of sending explicit messages to "decoys" he believed were 14-year-old girls.

Judge Heather Lloyd, presiding over the case at Preston Crown Court, stated that Stewart would have faced immediate imprisonment had his targets been real children. She condemned his actions, describing them as "utterly vile and predatory behaviour."

The court heard that Stewart initiated sexual conversations with two decoys, "Molly" and "Imogen," operated by the online child protection group Elite. Despite being told the decoys were 14 years old, Stewart persisted in his communications, sending explicit messages and images.

Stewart's attempts to engage in sexual communication with the decoys spanned several months, with his behavior becoming increasingly explicit over time. The Elite group ultimately reported Stewart to the police, providing them with all the evidence gathered during the sting.

Upon his arrest, Stewart refused to answer questions, offering only "no comment" responses. He pleaded guilty to two charges of attempting sexual communications with a child.

The defense argued that Stewart was "deeply ashamed" of his actions and that he suffered from longstanding alcohol problems. They highlighted his history of mental health struggles, including suicide attempts.

Despite the mitigating factors, Judge Lloyd expressed doubts about Stewart's potential for rehabilitation. However, she ultimately sentenced him to nine months in prison, suspended for two years. She also ordered him to participate in rehabilitation programs, receive alcohol treatment, and abide by a 10-year sexual harm prevention order.

Judge Lloyd emphasized that the reason she did not impose an immediate prison sentence was due to the decoys' fictitious nature. "If they were real children, it would have been a much longer sentence and been immediate," she stated.