ANDREW THOMSON CAUGHT IN WARNDON CHILD GROOMING STING IN WORCESTER

In March 2018, a disturbing case unfolded involving Andrew Thomson, a resident of Warndon, Worcester, who was caught in a covert operation targeting online child grooming. The incident was orchestrated by a vigilant group known as 'Guardians of the North,' based in the North East, who set up fake Facebook profiles to identify individuals attempting to engage with underage girls for sexual purposes.

Thomson, aged 48 and living on Brookthorpe Close in Warndon, Worcester, was found to have made sexually explicit requests to what he believed were underage girls. He provided his phone number and engaged in conversations that clearly indicated his intent to pursue sexual activity with minors. Unbeknownst to him, he was communicating with members of the 'Guardians of the North,' who had created fictitious profiles of girls aged between 11 and 14, complete with photographs and details about their schools, to monitor and catch potential groomers.

The group had carefully set up these profiles, waiting for individuals like Thomson to initiate contact. Their goal was to identify and apprehend online predators before any harm could be inflicted. Thomson made friend requests to six of these fake profiles, all claiming to be girls aged between 13 and 14. The prosecutor, Martin Liddiard, explained that these profiles were entirely fabricated, designed solely for the purpose of catching offenders.

During the exchanges, Thomson sent messages that were highly inappropriate and indicative of grooming behavior. He asked questions such as 'are you a virgin?' and 'how large are your breasts?' He also expressed a desire to have sex with the girls, inquired about a 'threesome,' and asked whether they wanted to know the size of his penis. Further, he proposed engaging in a 'video chat' over his laptop and asked invasive questions about their 'private parts.'

More concerning was Thomson's willingness to exchange phone numbers, as he handed out his own contact details, which the 'Guardians of the North' noted as a sinister aspect of his behavior. The group contacted police on January 21, 2017, after they observed Thomson outside his Worcester residence at 6 am. They provided police with evidence, including a USB drive, after consulting the electoral roll to locate him.

When questioned by law enforcement, Thomson refused to make any statement, asserting he had nothing to say. It was also revealed that he had a history of good character prior to this incident. Initially, Thomson pleaded not guilty to six counts of attempting or causing a child under 16 to engage in sexual activity on October 5 of the previous year. However, by the time of a pre-trial review on February 27, he changed his plea to guilty.

During the sentencing hearing, Judge Jim Tindal emphasized that the case extended beyond mere online chat, highlighting the fact that Thomson had shared his phone number, making the situation more serious. The judge described Thomson as a lonely, isolated man with low confidence at the time of the offenses. He acknowledged that the 'Guardians of the North' were vigilantes, and no actual children were harmed during the sting. Nonetheless, the behavior demonstrated a clear risk of reoffending, as the judge noted that if Thomson was willing to engage with fake profiles, he might do so with real children in the future.

Despite this, the judge recognized 'strong personal mitigation' and the potential for rehabilitation, citing Thomson's troubled life history. He expressed concern that an immediate prison sentence could worsen Thomson's social isolation, and instead, he opted for a suspended sentence. Thomson was sentenced to 18 months in prison, suspended for two years, and was ordered to complete 25 days of rehabilitation activities.

Additionally, Thomson was subject to a sexual harm prevention order for ten years, restricting his contact with children and his internet use. He is also required to sign the sex offender register for the same period and pay a court costs contribution of £250. The court also ordered the forfeiture and destruction of devices seized from Thomson during police searches of his home, aiming to prevent further offenses and protect the community from potential harm.