Paedophile pensioner who told a young boy he could pretend to be his grandad and meet him.

75-Year-Old Man Jailed for Attempting to Meet Child for Sex

David Shanks, 75, was sentenced to 26 months in prison for attempting to meet a child under 16 after grooming and attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child. Shanks, of Dewsbury Road, Hunslet, made contact with a fake profile on the social media site Hornet on July 18. The profile, created by police, was posing as a 14-year-old boy.

Despite the profile owner stating their age, Shanks continued to pursue a meeting. He sent messages expressing his desire to meet the boy in Leeds for the weekend "for the gay scene" and offered to bring condoms. He also sent pictures of his genitals.

On August 3, police apprehended Shanks at the railway station in Leeds, where he was waiting to meet the supposed boy. Shanks initially claimed he had no intention of having sex with the boy and intended to buy him food before putting him back on the train. However, his claim was rejected by Judge Simon Batiste.

In court, Shanks admitted to the charges and expressed remorse. He has no prior convictions and had worked from the age of 16 to 74. Judge Batiste stated, "It was not simple fantasy because you went to the railway station to meet him. It's clear your intention was for sexual activity."

In addition to his prison sentence, Shanks received a 10-year sexual harm prevention order limiting his internet use and was placed on the sex offender register for the same period.