Paedophile caught by cops in online sting

PAEDOPHILE CAUGHT BY COPS IN ONLINE STING

A paedophile who targeted what he thought was a 13-year-old girl online is facing jail after being caught by undercover cops.

Darren King (35), from south Belfast, was convicted of a single count of attempted sexual communication with a child at Laganside Magistrates Court earlier this month.

The court heard a covert online law enforcement officer posing as a 13-year-old girl had been contacted directly by the accused in April 2024.

Using a nickname, King messaged the teenager back and forth “over several months where pictures were requested of her”, the court heard.

Convicting him, District Judge Amanda Brady said: “I have had time to consider the evidence in this case, in particular a report from a law enforcement operative who was in contact with the defendant, as well as a phone report and his interview.

The conversation, in parts, appears to be sexual in nature in that he was inciting her to meet up with him, send photos of herself, and talking about sex.

At all times he kept up the persona of a 13-year-old himself.

So I am satisfied he did attempt to sexually communicate with a child.

The defendant chose not to give evidence, and despite claiming someone else must have got hold of his phone, used his own nickname (online).

King was later bailed pending the compilation of pre-sentence reports.

King, of Kilburn Street in Belfast, was placed on the sex offenders register and will be the subject of a Sexual Offences Prevention Order application at his sentencing next month.