POOLE MAN CAUGHT SEXUALLY MESSAGING '14-YEAR-OLD GIRL'
A PAEDOPHILE who sent sexual messages and asked for indecent pictures of a ‘14-year-old girl’ was caught by a vigilante group, a court has heard.Daniel Rolfe, 32 and of Denby Road in Poole, admitted to falling for the South West Predator Hunters’ ‘trap’ after having sexual conversations with a decoy.
Prosecutor, Stuart Ellacott, told Bournemouth Crown Court that Rolfe began messaging the profile on August 4 last year.
He said the ‘girl’ revealed she was 14-years-old early in the conversation, but Rolfe sent more sexually explicit messages regardless.
The defendant told the decoy he needed to be careful because of their age difference, he could get in trouble.
Mr Ellacott said Rolfe asked the ‘girl’ for indecent pictures and told her to touch herself inappropriately.
Over the five days of conversation, the pair also discussed meeting up, although no formal arrangements were made.
The court heard how Rolfe arranged to meet a 35-year-old woman who was due to take him out for his birthday, but was instead confronted by the decoy he had been messaging.
He was arrested and made a ‘full and frank admission’, according to police.
Rolfe told police, “I fell for it”, referring to the vigilante’s decoy trap.
He later pleaded guilty to attempting to incite a girl to engage in sexual activity and adult attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child.
Mitigating, Laura Deuxberry, said Rolfe has since deleted all his social media and intends not to use it again.
She said the defendant had a traumatic upbringing and suffers from PTSD, depression and anxiety.
“He is clearly socially isolated and bored,” she said.
“He has no friends and was reaching out to strangers on social media for companionship.” Ms Deuxberry said Rolfe has had to move out of his home out of fear of being attacked, after being targeted.
Judge Robert Pawson said there was a ‘significant disparity’ in ages between the defendant and the decoy.
He said Rolfe is still in denial of his offending after telling police he did not do it for sexual gratification.
Judge Pawson said Rolfe is “undoubtedly vulnerable and immature” but does believe there is a realistic prospect of rehabilitation.
Rolfe was sentenced to two years in prison, suspended for two years.
He must complete 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days, 26 days of a programme and was fined £2000.
He will be subject to the sex offenders register and a sexual harm prevention order for 10 years.
