Trying to incite children to take part in sexual activity.

Paedophile Hunter Confrontation: Man Jailed for Inciting Children to Have Sex

John Derek Sandham, 37, was apprehended in Denbighshire by The Hunted, a vigilante group, after attempting to incite two young "girls" to send intimate photos online.

Sandham, a bricklayer from Carmel near Holywell, believed he was communicating with an 11-year-old named Sarah and a 13-year-old named Elle in April and May of last year. In reality, he was talking to adults posing as children.

Using the alias "David" and claiming to be from Rhyl, Sandham sent intimate photographs and pornographic videos, requesting images from the supposed girls. After gathering evidence from online chat logs, the paedophile hunters traced Sandham through a swingers' website and arranged a confrontation in June.

The 30-minute confrontation, filmed by The Hunted, showed a visibly shaken Sandham, who was found to be wearing female underwear, lying on the ground covering his face. The police were alerted and arrived at the scene to arrest Sandham.

During interrogation, Sandham claimed he believed he was communicating with adults pretending to be children. However, a forensic examination of his mobile phone revealed he had been downloading and distributing indecent images of children.

At Mold Crown Court this week, Sandham pleaded guilty to charges of attempting to incite children to engage in sexual activity, sexual communication, distributing indecent images of children, possessing indecent images of children, and possessing extreme pornographic images.

He was sentenced to 42 months in prison and will remain on the Sex Offenders Register for life. Judge Niclas Parry emphasized the seriousness of the offenses, noting Sandham's persistent attempts to target two young girls. He expressed relief that no actual children were harmed.

In 2018, prosecutors utilized evidence provided by paedophile hunters in over 250 cases against suspected abusers.