Dad jailed for trying to meet girl for sex
BRICKLAYER WAS CAUGHT CONTACTING A FAKE PROFILE
POLICE are warning parents that a messaging app popular with children has been used by paedophiles to target victims.
Kik, a mobile messaging service similar to Whatsapp, does not require a phone number or real name to sign up.
This week, two Liverpool men who used Kik were convicted of sex offences against children.
Last week, Mark McKuhen was jailed for two years for sending more than 1,000 indecent images through Kik.
Christopher Forsyth was also locked up for stalking a 14-year-old girl who he asked to add him on the app. The app is designed for young people but it is possible to chat with strangers, with public groups designed for teenagers who want to chat with others.
It is possible for young people using Kik to bypass parental controls and adult content filters.
Security experts warn parents to keep an eye on their children’s use of Kik due to the anonymous nature of accounts.
For more information about protecting your child online, call the NSPCC’s internet safety hotline on 0808 800 5002.
A spokesperson for Kik said they take online safety very seriously, and were constantly assessing and improving their safety measures. Reporter A FATHER was caught trying to arrange sex with an underage girl in a sting by paedophile hunters.
Raymond Matthews, a bricklayer, has been jailed after he thought he was arranging to meet a 14-year-old girl for sex.
Matthews, from Whickham Street, Peterlee, sent explicit messages to a fake profile of a 14-year-old set up by Guardians of the North.
Durham Crown Court heard on Friday August 4 that in the fake profile, ‘Jessica’ asked Matthews: “Are you okay with me being 14?” To which he replied: “Yes lol, it’s mad though. Are you curious about doing sex?”
The pervert then offered to teach the teenager how to carry out sex acts and made arrangements to meet her. Matthews planned to meet ‘Jessica’ at the Golden Lion pub car park in South Hylton, Sunderland in June this year, close to where the fake teenager said she would be having tea at her nana’s house.
Prosecuting, Jane Waugh said: “It is clear the defendant thought he was speaking to a person who he believed to be 14 years old and had sexual conversations and made arrangements to meet.” When Matthews arrived to meet the fictional teenager he was confronted by members of the Guardians of the North paedophile hunting group who recognised him and called the police. Matthews, 55, pleaded guilty to two charges of attempting to cause a child to engage in sexual activity and one of attempting to arrange a meeting with a child for the purposes of sexual activity. Police seized his phone and found he had trawled the internet searching for sexual images and videos of ‘very young girls.’ While on bail Matthews tried to make contact online with another of Guardians of the North’s fake profiles, this time a 14-year-old under the name Lauren, which was reported to police immediately meaning his bail was revoked. Defending William Byrne, Judge Christoper Prince mitigating, said: “This is quite an ordinary man who carries on his daily life as best he can and supports his daughter and family members.
“This has caused him acute embarrassment and a great deal of shame.
“He regrets the shame he has brought on his family and himself.”
Mr Byrne highlighted the fact there was no victim in this case and that the defendant had already been in custody for six weeks.
He added: “This disgusting act, which he [Matthews] readily admits.”
Judge Christopher Prince sentenced Matthews to six months in prison.
He said: “I have no doubt that had this been a 14-year-old and you had the opportunity you would have engaged in that act.
“That couldn’t occur because this was a fake profile.
“It’s clear from the search terms you have a sexual interest in children and young people.
“This was quite determined and considered behaviour.”
Matthews will also be required to sign the sex offenders’ register.