Wife Controls Family Laptop After Husband's Sexual Messages to Underage Girls

A court heard that the wife of Philip Horsburgh, a 72-year-old man from Wokingham, is now in charge of the password to their family laptop. Horsburgh was spared jail despite sending sexual messages to two 13-year-old girls and a picture of his penis.

The incidents took place in the summer of 2019. Horsburgh contacted the girls, who were actually undercover police officers, online. Despite being aware of their age, he continued to message them and encouraged one to engage in sexual activity.

Horsburgh also sent a sexually explicit image of himself to one of the girls. However, he did not attempt to meet with them, and the contact ceased.

His defence counsel stated that since the incidents, his wife has taken control of their family laptop, and Horsburgh is only allowed to use it under her supervision.

Horsburgh has been participating in rehabilitation courses since the summer of 2019. His barrister said: "He wants to show everyone else he will not behave like this again."

Sentencing Horsburgh, Her Honour Judge Real said: "This was a massive shock to your family but they have put in place measures so you do not go down this route again."

Horsburgh was sentenced to a 20-month prison sentence, suspended for two years. He will also have to complete 40 days of rehabilitation activity and will be on the sex offenders register for ten years. He was convicted at Reading Crown Court on Monday, October 25, for two counts of attempting to incite a girl aged 13-15 in sexual activity, attempting to engage in sexual activity in the presence of a child, and two counts of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child.