ANDREW GATES FROM NORTHWICH JAILED FOR SEXUAL CHAT CRIMES WITH DECOYS SET UP BY PAEDOPHILE HUNTERS IN CHESHIRE

In a significant case highlighting the dangers of online predation, Andrew Gates, a 50-year-old resident of Northwich, Cheshire, was sentenced to prison after engaging in explicit online conversations with what he believed were underage girls. Unbeknownst to Gates, these girls were actually decoys operated by paedophile hunters aiming to catch individuals attempting to exploit minors through digital communication.

Gates pleaded guilty to a total of seven charges in relation to his online conduct. These included five counts of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, one charge of causing what he believed was a 14-year-old girl to engage in sexual activity, and another of intentionally inciting what he thought was a 13-year-old girl to participate in sexual acts. The court proceedings took place at Chester Crown Court on Thursday, June 16, where Gates was handed a custodial sentence of 30 months.

The four victims Gates believed he was communicating with were, in fact, decoys created by the paedophile hunters. These decoys used the messaging service Nearby, an app that has since been decommissioned following a data breach, to lure potential offenders. The prosecution, led by Claire Jones, explained that all the offences occurred between January and February 2021.

The first decoy, known as 'Gemma, 13', was targeted by Gates in explicit conversations. During their exchanges, Gates sent a photo of himself looking directly into the camera. 'Gemma' responded with her own photo, prompting Gates to react with admiration, saying “wow wow wow” and commenting that she “looked really cute.”

Gates's inappropriate conduct escalated as he sent a topless photo of himself and expressed a desire to be her boyfriend, asking for naked pictures in return. He referred to her as his “princess” and claimed he “wanted to keep her warm,” also suggesting that their relationship was to be kept secret, citing the phrase “age is just a number” in support of his inappropriate intentions.

Further disturbing details emerged when Gates provided detailed instructions on how the decoy, posing as a 13-year-old girl, could perform a sex act as a form of stress relief. He also sent her a graphic photo of his genitalia. The second decoy, 'Jessica', posed as a 14-year-old girl on the same platform. Gates made disparaging remarks about her, calling her “scrummy,” and expressed regret that he could not wash her back while she was in the bath. He then asked her to send photos, emphasizing that their conversations would remain private.

The third decoy, 'Steph', also aged 14, was approached similarly. Gates requested a photo of her and again asked if she wanted her back washed in the bath. Their conversations later moved to WhatsApp messages, where the inappropriate exchanges continued.

The fourth decoy, also named Gemma and aged 14, was contacted after Gates provided his phone number. He asked her for a photo, but she claimed her camera was not working. Gates offered to send her a replacement phone and expressed a desire to “keep her warm and cuddle her.”

Following these interactions, the paedophile hunters organized a sting operation. They contacted the police, who subsequently arrested Gates at his Northwich residence. During his arrest, Gates expressed remorse, stating, “I can’t believe it, I have let myself down.”

Judge Simon Berkson, presiding over the case, emphasized that the most aggravating aspect was the presence of four potential victims. He acknowledged Gates’s admission of guilt but underscored the severity of his actions. The judge stated, “You have faced up to your criminal behaviour, and I am sentencing a man of good character. However, only an immediate custodial sentence can achieve appropriate punishment.”

In addition to his prison term, Gates was subjected to a 15-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order. This order imposes strict restrictions on his future internet use and prohibits him from communicating with minors without explicit parental or guardian approval. Furthermore, the mobile device used for the messaging exchanges was confiscated and ordered to be permanently deprived of its use in relation to the offences.