Predator caught messaging who he thought was a 12-year-old girl telling her to record herself doing a sex act.

Predator Sentenced for Online Grooming

Paul Chesher, 56, of Herbrandston, was sentenced to 27 months in prison for attempting to groom a child online. He pleaded guilty to charges of attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity and attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child.

Chesher began messaging a decoy profile posing as a 12-year-old girl named "Ellie" on the social networking site Kik in August 2021. He repeatedly referred to "Ellie" as being "too young" and acknowledged the potential legal consequences of his actions. Despite this, he continued to solicit pictures from the decoy, inquire about her underwear and sexual experiences, and directed her to masturbate and send him a video.

Police were able to identify Chesher through his email and IP address and arrested him at his home in October 2021. The case was delayed due to analysis of electronic devices and obtaining information from Kik.

Judge Geraint Walters sentenced Chesher, stating that his actions were not a momentary lapse in judgment but a persistent pattern. He emphasized that Chesher had not fully accepted that his motivation stemmed from his interest in children and not from mental or physical health issues.

In addition to his prison sentence, Chesher must register as a sex offender for 10 years and is subject to a sexual harm prevention order for the same period.

Detective Constable Paul Kelly of Dyfed Powys Police highlighted the collaborative effort between police agencies in bringing Chesher to justice and emphasized the seriousness of crimes against children.

Detective Constable Isaac Gott of the Tarian Regional Organised Crime Unit emphasized their dedication to identifying and pursuing individuals who exploit children online.