CHRISTOPHER SHEAD CAUGHT IN NOTTINGHAM AFTER ILKESTON GROOMING PLOT REVEALED
In a disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through the communities of Ilkeston and Nottingham, Christopher Shead, a man previously residing in Ilkeston, was apprehended after attempting to meet what he believed was a 13-year-old girl for a cinema date.The incident unfolded on November 2, 2019, when Shead was found outside the Savoy cinema in Nottingham by a group of vigilant paedophile hunters who had set up a fake online profile to catch predators.
According to prosecutor Stephen Kemp, police officers conducted a search of Shead’s former residence in Ilkeston, uncovering evidence on his electronic devices that indicated he had been communicating with what he thought were five underage girls.
The investigation revealed that Shead had engaged in conversations that quickly turned sexual in nature, with some exchanges including the sharing of explicit images, notably a photograph of his genitals.
Shead, aged 35 and now residing on Lewis Close in Nottingham, pleaded guilty to ten separate criminal charges related to these offenses.
During the court proceedings at Nottingham Crown Court, Judge Michael Auty QC addressed the seriousness of the case, emphasizing that the group of paedophile hunters had livestreamed Shead’s attempt to meet the girl, a practice the court condemned due to the inherent risks involved.
In his remarks, Judge Auty highlighted Shead’s silence during police questioning, noting that he answered “no comment” to all inquiries.
The judge further revealed that Shead was not only communicating with one girl but was involved with at least five, all under the age of 16, with the youngest being only 11 years old.
The conversations rapidly escalated to sexual topics, which the judge described as particularly grave because Shead believed these interactions were with real children, not decoys.
Addressing Shead’s motives, the judge pointed out that his attempt to meet the girl with a pregnancy-testing kit suggested a disturbing intent beyond merely watching a film.
However, he acknowledged that Shead was experiencing a difficult period at the time of the offenses and took into account that the individuals involved were adults pretending to be minors, which somewhat mitigated the severity of the case.
Ultimately, Shead was sentenced to a total of three years in prison.
Additionally, he was placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life and subjected to a sexual harm prevention order, reflecting the court’s commitment to safeguarding vulnerable children and preventing future offenses.
