Pervert loses job as hunters trap him at his workplace
“DON’T darken these court doors again” was the warning from a judge to a man who thought he was sending sexual messages to a teenage boy.
Carl Brittain believed he was contacting a 15-year-old but Derby Crown Court heard it was in reality a member of a self-styled paedophile hunters’ group pretending to be a child.
Members of the group went on to confront him at his place of work.
Judge Shaun Smith QC handed Brittain a suspended sentence. He said: “You are 51 years of age, you have not been in trouble before.
“You have lived at home with your mother for the last ten years, if not longer. You live, as Mr Harvey, mitigating, put it, an unexciting life.
“You find it difficult to explain your feelings and thoughts. I’m not criticising you for that.
“You pleaded guilty at the first opportunity and made full admissions to the police. You will get full credit for that.
“You said to what you thought was a 15-year-old boy disgusting comments. In the report you (were) expressing absolute shame. It was a disgraceful misjudgment on your part.
“Paedophile hunters attended your place of work. You were arrested.
“As a result you have lost your employment; some friends you used to go out with, you have lost them as well. I can suspend this sentence. Do not darken these court doors again.”
The court heard how Brittain had messaged someone who he thought was a 15-year-old boy and went on to send messages of a sexual nature.
The paedophile hunters behind the sting went to Brittain’s place of work to confront him.
The court heard he went on to make full admissions and had no previous convictions.
Joe Harvey, mitigating, told the court Brittain lived “an unexciting and uneventful life”.
He said: “He made some questionable decisions. He has lost his employment, the group arrived at his place of work.
“He desires to return to work. The consequences of this conviction will be problematic for him.
“He was honest and forthright with the probation service.”
Brittain, of Ridgeway, Heanor, pleaded guilty to attempting to engage in sexual communications with a child.
Judge Smith handed him an eightmonth sentence, suspended for two years. He must undertake a 90-day sexual offender group work programme and 30 rehabilitation activity requirement days.
He was also made subject to a sexual harm prevention order for seven years.