Accused messaged police officer posing as 12-year-old, court told

A Belfast man used a mobile messaging app in attempts at sexual communication with a police officer posing as a 12-year-old girl, a court was told yesterday.

David Quinn (28) is also accused of resuming contact on Kik the day after he was released from custody.

A judge was told that a message sent via the accused’s user name stated: “I’m sorry for the delay in my reply, I have been in jail for a week.”

Quinn, of Belvoir Drive, appeared at the city’s Magistrates Court to face two new charges of attempted sexual communication with a child.

The alleged offences were committed between July 13 and August 10, and again between November 24-26.

He denies any involvement in sending the messages.

An investigating detective claimed: “The defendant has initiated contact with a police officer who has an online profile pretending to be a 12-year-old female.”

Quinn allegedly provided a phone number and asked to be called on it. The online conversation was said to have ceased when Quinn was arrested. He spent a week in custody before being released on bail on December 4. A day later Quinn allegedly breached those terms by resuming contact with the officer, according to police.

Opposing Quinn’s application to be released again, the detective contended: “This is the fourth separate incident of communication with a person he believed to be under 16.”

Defence solicitor Michael McCoy stressed his client maintains he was not responsible for any of the messages, as his phone was with the police.

“His general defence is that it’s not him making this communication, it’s someone else using his details and information.”

Refusing bail due to concerns over further offending, District Judge Steven Keown held: “There’s a risk of harm to children.” He remanded Quinn in custody, to appear again by video-link on January 8.