Sex Offender Slammed for Grooming 13-Year-Old Online

A sex offender who attempted to sexually groom a 13-year-old girl online was condemned by a judge for refusing to admit his attraction to children.

Steven Ogilvie, 55, from Sutton Coldfield, initiated a conversation with a young profile on the Chat Avenue website, engaging in sexually suggestive conversations that included discussing nudity and visiting a nudist beach.

However, the "girl" he was communicating with was actually an undercover police officer. Ogilvie pleaded guilty to attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child but was spared a prison sentence, partly due to the fact that the offense occurred in 2018 and he hadn't repeated the behavior since.

At Birmingham Crown Court, Ogilvie was sentenced to a three-year community order.

Despite his guilty plea, Ogilvie claimed to probation officers that he wasn't attracted to children and had no intention of speaking to a child. However, Judge Richard Bond refuted this claim, stating: "I totally reject what you say, of course you are attracted to children, what else were you doing?"

Judge Bond continued, "Adults mainly go onto such websites for one reason alone; to attain some form of sexual satisfaction talking to underage children. You probably can't even admit to yourself you are attracted to children, but when you hear the circumstances of this case, you clearly are."

Ogilvie's conversation with the decoy profile began on January 9, 2018. Prosecutor Oliver Wellings described Chat Avenue as a platform for teenagers seeking online conversations, but also attracts predatory paedophiles.

Ogilvie initially inquired about the "girl's" background before transitioning the conversation to dating and phone sex. He made jokes about being old enough to be her father and suggested they shower naked together and visit a nudist beach.

Mr. Wellings noted that Ogilvie seemed to have second thoughts after a few days and began asking for photos of the "girl" to confirm her identity.

The court heard that Ogilvie had previously been caught by paedophile-hunters for similar behavior before the current offense was established in law.

Defense attorney Ben Close emphasized that the latest offense spanned three days and occurred five years ago. He highlighted Ogilvie's remorse and attributed his behavior to a challenging period in his life marked by separation, loneliness, and mental health difficulties.

Ogilvie was ordered to participate in a sexual offenders' treatment program, complete 60 days of rehabilitation activity, and adhere to police notification requirements for five years.

Judge Bond concluded, "It is you who turns the conversation away from innocuous matters. It becomes highly sexualised at your instigation. When you say you are not attracted to children, why are you talking about being in the shower with a 13-year-old girl? That's because that's what you wanted in your dreams."