Paedophile hunters snare Hull dad looking for 'sex chats' with girls.

A group of "well-meaning vigilantes" confronted a man who was attempting to incite children to commit sex acts at an estate agents.

Three adult "decoys" posed as teenagers online, using pictures of themselves as minors, to lure Garry Mulligan, 56, into believing he was communicating with underage girls. Mulligan, from Stanley Street, west Hull, engaged in online chats with "Ella", "Stacey", and "Bobbie-Jo", all claiming to be 14 years old.

However, these profiles were operated by members of a group called "National Child Protectors". Adam Walker, the prosecutor in Hull Crown Court, explained that the decoys quickly revealed their supposed age and allowed Mulligan to steer the conversations towards sexual topics.

Through platforms like WhatsApp, Mulligan requested nude images, asked about underwear, and solicited sexual acts from the decoys. He sent "Bobbie-Jo" pornographic links and inquired if they aroused her. To "Ella", he stated, "This is how sex chats start," essentially instructing her on how to engage in sexually suggestive conversations.

Mulligan attempted to get two of the "girls" to send indecent pictures and had multiple online conversations with each decoy. Mr. Walker highlighted that "National Child Protectors utilized their investigative methods to locate Mr. Mulligan at his workplace, an estate agent. The police were involved, and Mr. Mulligan confessed to his guilt."

Mulligan pleaded guilty to four charges of attempting to incite a child under 16 to engage in sexual activity and one count of attempting to communicate sexually with a girl he believed was 14. These offenses occurred in November 2017.

Stephen Robinson, Mulligan's defense attorney, stated that his client, a man with no prior convictions, deeply regretted his actions and the shame he brought upon himself and his family. He acknowledged that Mulligan had lost his job as an estate agent due to the incident and had since found employment in stock-taking and management.

Mr. Robinson emphasized that Mulligan was described as a decent, hardworking, kind, and generous individual who provided support to his elderly parents. However, the court recognized the seriousness of the offenses.

Judge Graham Robinson sentenced Mulligan to six months in jail, suspended for two years, stating that despite the decoys' involvement, Mulligan genuinely believed he was communicating with 14-year-old girls. His attempts to engage them in inappropriate and illegal sexual activities were deemed unacceptable.

Mulligan was also required to register as a sex offender for seven years and was subjected to a sexual harm prevention order for the same duration. He must participate in the Horizon program, undergo up to 15 days of rehabilitation, and pay the prosecution costs of 670 pounds within 28 days.