Scarborough Man Sentenced for Online Child Sexual Abuse

A Scarborough man who sent 'sexual' images to who he believed to be a 13-year-old girl has been handed a suspended sentence after being caught by police.

John Gilbert, 53, engaged in online chats with a teenager he believed to be 13-years-old between September 2 and September 14. However, he was actually communicating with a fake account set up by officers from North Yorkshire Police.

York Magistrates' Court heard that Gilbert sent sexual images to the account, participated in "sexualised chat," and made arrangements to meet the girl. He was arrested on September 16, and a search warrant was executed at his home.

Key evidence proving Gilbert's involvement in online child sexual abuse activity through various dating and messaging applications was obtained from his smartphone by the Digital Forensic Unit.

Gilbert appeared at York Magistrates' Court on Friday (October 15) for sentencing after pleading guilty to three offenses:

• Being an adult attempting to meet a girl under 16 years of age following grooming
• Attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child
• Attempting to cause a child aged 13 to 15 to watch/look at an image of sexual activity

He was sentenced to six months' imprisonment, suspended for two years.

Police Constable Francesca Diffey, of the Online Abuse and Exploitation Team based at Scarborough, led the investigation that secured the conviction. PC Diffey stated: "It is clear from the investigation that Gilbert has an active sexual interest in children and that he presents a very real danger to society."

"Through the work of the police, we were able to intervene before he preyed on young victims. We have also ensured that Gilbert has been made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and he is on the Sex Offenders Register. This means he will be closely managed by strict public protection measures."