‘Teen prostitute’ ad snares pervert
A PERVERT has been jailed after turning up to meet what he believed was going to be a 15-year-old prostitute for sex.
Joseph Smith responded to an online advertisement which stated there was an 18-year-old woman selling sexual services in his area.
When the 37-year-old called the number provided, he was told that the girl selling sex was in fact only 15 years old.
But he still decided to go and meet the teen in an area of Durham. However, what Smith didn’t know, was that the advertisement was false, and had been set up by undercover police.
Smith, of Bracken Field Road, Durham, appeared at Durham Crown Court on Thursday, via link from HMP
Durham, to be sentenced for attempting to arrange or facilitate a child sexual offence.
He pleaded guilty to the charge at a previous hearing.
Alec Burns, prosecuting, said as part of an undercover police operation aiming to catch paedophiles, an online advert was set up purporting to be an 18-year-old woman selling sexual services.
He said: “On April 25 the defendant called the number twice. He then sent a text message asking what time she started work.”
Mr Burns said that contact was then made over the phone and that Smith called himself “Craig”. During the conversation, Smith was told that the girl selling sex,was in fact only 15-years-old. Mr Burns said: “The defendant asked if any girls were over 16 and he was told no.”
But Smith was undeterred, and arranged to meet the 15-year-old decoy shortly before 11pm in an area of Framwellgate Moor. As soon as he arrived, he was arrested.
The court heard Smith has 16 previous convictions, including for offences of voyeurism which dated back to 2005. Recorder Jamie Hill QC jailed Smith for two years.
He was also made subject of a 10-year sexual harm prevention order and will be on the sex offenders’ register for two years.