BENJAMIN REINA FROM EDMONSHAM CAUGHT IN SWINDON PAEDOPHILE PLOT

In a disturbing case that highlights the dangers of online grooming and the vigilance of community groups, Benjamin Reina, a 42-year-old man from Edmonsham near Wimborne, Dorset, was caught attempting to meet a minor in Swindon. The incident unfolded in the summer of 2019, when Reina was lured into a trap set by the online vigilante group Justice for the Innocent.

Reina had initiated contact with what he believed was a 14-year-old girl through the social media application Skout. Over the course of their online conversations, he was led to believe he was communicating with a young girl who discussed her school life, homework, her mother’s disciplinary actions, and chores. The decoy, operating under the guise of a teenage girl, maintained the illusion of innocence, but Reina’s messages revealed a darker intent.

During their exchanges, Reina sent explicit images, including a photograph of himself emerging from a shower and two images of his private parts. On June 27, 2019, he sent a provocative message to the decoy account, asking, “Did you want me to teach you some stuff about sex ed?” This message indicated his desire to engage in sexual activity with the minor.

By early July, Reina had made arrangements to meet the girl in Swindon. He kept in contact with her throughout his journey from his home near Wimborne to Wiltshire, seemingly unaware that he was being watched. Instead of meeting a minor, Reina was met by members of Justice for the Innocent, who detained him until police officers arrived at the scene.

Evidence from the online conversations, provided by the decoy account, clearly demonstrated Reina’s intent to engage in sexual activity, including foreplay, during the planned meeting. Despite being detained, Reina refused to cooperate with police, declining to provide login details for his two mobile phones. The evidence against him was primarily derived from the online chat logs maintained by the decoy.

Following his arrest, Reina was released on bail. However, he later sent a letter to the police claiming that Justice for the Innocent had misled him and asserting his innocence. This attempt to deny culpability was noted during the proceedings.

Reina was scheduled to stand trial earlier this year but chose to plead guilty to a single count of attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming. The court heard that Reina’s actions spanned over two months, during which he engaged in sexual communication with a girl he believed to be 14, and sent explicit images of himself.

Judge Peter Crabtree sentenced Reina to 16 months in prison, emphasizing that immediate custody was not necessary for public protection. The judge acknowledged Reina’s previous good character and the potential for rehabilitation, citing the pre-sentence report’s suggestion that probation could be effective. Nonetheless, the judge made it clear that Reina’s offending was serious, involving sexual communication with a minor and the sending of explicit images.

As part of his sentence, Reina was also handed a 10-year sexual harm prevention order and is required to register as a sex offender, ensuring ongoing monitoring and restrictions to prevent further offenses.