Sex offender groomed girl just months after release
PERVERT IS BACK BEHIND BARS
A SEX offender snared by paedophile hunters within weeks of being released from prison is behind bars again.
Nigel Lodge, 58, was caught grooming online again in May, just three months after he was released from a jail term of almost four years.
He received that sentence in 2018 for sexual chat with a real underage girl on the internet.
Using the profile “sexyman,” he persistently sent the scared girl rude pictures and messages, including images of his private parts, suggesting sex to her.
He was also caught by “New Justice,” an organisation targeting internet child groomers, in December 2017.
Lodge made sexual conversation with one of their workers, posing as a 14-year-old girl, asking for pictures and encouraging and “instructing” her on sexual activity.
He got out of prison for those offences in February this year.
Lodge came into contact with another group, the Child Online Safety Team which tracks down and reports online sex offenders, in May.
A female COST operative posing as a 13-year-old girl received sexual messages from Lodge, Teesside Crown Court heard.
Despite quickly stating her age, he incited the fictitious girl to send naked photos and take part in sexual activity.
He said: “Can I see you with nothing on?” and “show me your sexy body”, said prosecutor Harry Hadfield.
He asked he if she was by herself at home, told her not to let her mother see and said she could not tell anyone she was talking to him because he could go to prison for it.
Lodge, 58, of Portrack Lane, Stockton, admitted attempting to incite child sexual exploitation, attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity and attempting to breach a sexual harm prevention order.
He was on licence from the 46-month jail term passed in 2018 for obscene communication, attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming, causing a child to engage in sexual activity and watch a sexual act.
Anthony Pettengell, defending, said: “There was thankfully no real child in this case.
“Clearly there is going to be a significant time in custody.”
He said it was short-lived, unsophisticated offending using Lodge’s own details.
He added Lodge pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity, had spent time in isolation in custody and was not given the chance to do a rehabilitation programme in his last sentence.
Judge Paul Watson QC told the defendant: “These offences in May 2020 were committed within weeks or perhaps just a few short months of your release.
“The messages quickly descended messages of a sexual nature.
“The fact the fictional character here did not exist is not relevant at all to the question of your culpability and what you were trying to achieve.”
He added: “I have no doubt there is in your case a significant risk of serious harm.
“I am beyond doubt... this court has power to make you subject to an extended sentence.”
The judge drew back from such a sentence given the points of mitigation and jailed Lodge for three years. Lodge will be on the sex offenders’ register for 10 years.
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