Paedophile hunters nab man who thought sex chat was with girl, 12
A former nursing assistant who tried to have sex chat with a 12-year-old on Facebook collapsed when he was confronted by paedophile hunters.
John Gibson, who spent 20 years working in psychiatric hospitals until he was sacked for sending sexual images to an adult, befriended a child's social media account that had been set up by a decoy organisation last February.
Newcastle Crown Court heard during conversations over the Messenger facility,
Gibson and the "girl" spoke about "pets and tattoos".
Then,despitebeingrepeatedly told he was talking to a 12-year-old child, the 50-yearold started to talk about sex, said he could be her "first boyfriend", sent a graphic picture and videos and requested the same in return.
Prosecutor Christopher Rose told the court: "On one occasion he suggested that they get a hotel room in Basingstoke so she could stay with him and he could be her first boyfriend."
The court heard the group behind the fake profile, which was based in the south of England, contacted a similar organisation in the North East and Gibson was lured to a date withanadult,wherethepolice were called.
Mr Rose said: "The defendantcollapsedonthefloor,complaining of chest pains and he was taken by ambulance. During that ambulance journey he admitted messaging a 12-yearoldgirlonFacebook,sayingshe wanted to come and meet him and he said no."
Gibson, of Hasting Street, Sunderland, admitted attemptingtocauseachildunder 13 to engage in sexual activity, attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child andattemptingtocauseachild under 13 to watch a sexual act.
Judge Robert Adams sentenced him to three years and two months behind bars.
Gibson must sign the sex offenders’ register for life and abidebyasexualharmprevention order for 10 years.
Judge Adams told him: "It is very clear you knew and understood she was 12 and you didn't seem to care. There is nodoubtwhatsoeverwhatyou were talking about while talking about the hotel."
The court heard Gibson's alcohol abuse was a contributing factor to his offending and he came across the profile by chance.
Fiona Lamb, defending, said: "He accepts, unusually, that the offending behaviour was motivated by sexual gratification."