Dad jailed for six months in police paedophile sting

HE SENT INDECENT PICTURES TO ‘12-YEAR-OLD GIRL’ WHO WAS UNDERCOVER OFFICER

A PAEDOPHILE who tried to get a 12-year-old girl to have sex with him found himself being arrested and learning the “girl” was really an undercover police officer.

Corey Worthington had been at home with his partner and their children when officers arrived at his house.

Appearing before Leicester magistrates, he was jailed for six months.

The court heard Worthington had been communicating with the fake girl, “Ellie”, on the Kik messaging app on his phone.

During the first day chatting with Ellie, he sent her a picture of his genitals and another the following day.

He sent five indecent photographs to the undercover officer in total and also tried to meet up with “her”, asking when they would be able to have sex and whether “she” wanted a baby.

At court, he pleaded guilty to attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child.

His solicitor, Louise Stephens, told the court the 26-year-old dad had been having difficulties in his life at around the time of the offending, which was in August and early September last year. She said: “At that time things were particularly difficult. He had lost one job as a result of the Covid pandemic and he had a new job but struggled because has cerebral palsy.

“He was trying to earn money for his young family.

“He lost that job, too, as a result of his mental health problems. His partner had been cheating on him with his ex-best friend.”

She said Worthington’s son was undergoing surgery, the family’s home was in need of repair and his partner’s ex-boyfriend – the father of a child living with Worthington and his partner – was also “back on the scene” and causing problems for the family.

The court heard Worthington, of Herbert Lane, Ashby, is on disability payments.

After retiring to consider their verdict, the magistrates returned to court and Worthington was jailed for six months.

The chair of the bench, Mitchell Donnelly, told him: “This is an incredibly serious offence.

“You have committed this offence believing it to be a 12-year-old child. The harm you intended was very real.”

During the first day chatting with ‘Ellie’, he sent her a picture of his genitals and another the following day