TV producer accused of grooming teen

AN IRISH television producer has been bailed after he appeared before magistrates yesterday accused of grooming a schoolgirl.

Kieran Creavan, a sports television producer with broadcaster RTE, had been arrested by West Yorkshire Police at the weekend. Officers had been alerted to his alleged offending after a sting by so-called paedophile hunters.

Leeds Magistrates’ Court heard the 55-year-old from Dublin is accused of having communicated with or met a 13-year-old girl with the intention of inciting the commission of sexual activity.

Creavan was said to have communicated with the girl and tried to meet her at The Queens Hotel in Leeds on one or more occasions between July 1 and November 18 this year.

He is also accused of attempting to cause or incite a 13-year-old girl to engage in activity of a sexual nature – “kissing and cuddling”.

Dressed in a blue shirt and black suit trousers, Creavan spoke only to confirm his age, date of birth and nationality during yesterday morning’s hearing. His solicitor, Mr Pritchard, said he would not be indicating a plea to the charges at this stage.

Magistrates told Creavan that the serious nature of the alleged offences meant his case would be sent to Leeds Crown Court, where a hearing will take place on December 18.

He was granted bail with the conditions that he must live at the address supplied to the court, have no unsupervised contact with any child aged under 16 and supply any internet-enabled devices to UK police if requested.

An order preventing the publication of Creavan’s full address was authorised by magistrates.

The chairman of the bench Rosemary Heslop said there was case law in proceedings involving such offences in order to protect the defendant’s safety.