CARL BROWN FROM BUNGAY SENTENCED AFTER ONLINE GROOMING INCIDENT IN GREAT YARMOUTH

In June 2016, Carl Brown, a man from Bungay, was sentenced to 20 months in prison after being caught in a sting operation involving online grooming. The incident unfolded when Brown attempted to arrange a meeting with a girl he believed was a minor, but in reality, he was communicating with a couple, Neil and Katie Ivall, who had set up a fake account to catch predators.

Neil and Katie Ivall, operating under the alias ‘Chris Fear,’ created the fake profile as part of their efforts to identify and apprehend individuals attempting to exploit children online. Their vigilance paid off when Brown began sending messages indicating his desire to meet the girl for sexual activity. The couple documented the exchanges and alerted authorities, leading to Brown’s arrest.

Brown’s actions came to light at Great Yarmouth Crown Court, where he pleaded guilty to attempting to meet a female under the age of 16 following online grooming. The court proceedings revealed that Brown was not a first-time offender; he was a convicted rapist who had previously served a sentence of seven and a half years at Wayland and Littlhey prisons. Despite his prior convictions and the restrictions placed upon him, Brown had violated both his sex offender prevention order and bail conditions, demonstrating a blatant disregard for the law.

The court was shown a video that captured the moment Brown was exposed, highlighting the seriousness of his offenses and the risks posed to children online. The case underscores the ongoing dangers of online grooming and the importance of vigilant efforts by individuals and authorities to protect vulnerable minors from predators.