KENILWORTH MAN DAVID REVELL CAUGHT IN ONLINE PREDATOR SCAM NEAR WARWICK

In September 2019, David Revell, a man from Kenilworth, found himself at the center of a disturbing online grooming case that unfolded in Warwickshire. Revell, aged 68, who had previously served as a school governor at Myton School in Warwick, was caught attempting to meet a girl he believed was just 12 years old. The incident was part of an operation conducted by the paedophile hunter group known as ‘Catching online predators,’ which had set up a decoy profile to lure him into a trap.

Revell’s actions came to light after he traveled from his home in Kenilworth to Manchester, intending to meet the young girl. Unbeknownst to him, he was met by members of the vigilante group, who had arranged the encounter as part of their sting operation. The police were subsequently contacted, leading to Revell’s arrest. Authorities seized his phone and laptop, uncovering a disturbing collection of online conversations and images.

On his devices, law enforcement found evidence of sexual communications with five different girls, all of whom Revell believed to be minors. Among the messages, he expressed inappropriate comments, including to a 13-year-old girl, saying, “You look very hot. Love it that you’re so young.” His messages to the girl he believed was 12, referred to as ‘Louise,’ revealed that he wanted to keep their conversations secret, stating he wouldn’t want her to get into trouble. He also discussed plans for her to travel to Manchester alone, without informing her parents, so they could meet, with Revell traveling from Warwick.

Further investigations revealed that Revell had taken and sent ‘upskirt’ pictures of schoolgirls on a bus, which was particularly alarming given his previous role as a school governor. He had asked a girl to take similar pictures and send them to him. His computer contained a total of 387 images of girls in naked or indecent poses downloaded from the internet, along with two more explicit images involving sexual activity.

Revell’s disturbing online activity extended to conversations with a 12-year-old girl, where he made it clear he wanted to meet her for sexual purposes. He discussed buying her gifts and even suggested they meet in a hotel room. His communications also included explicit comments about seeing her legs and liking her in a mini-skirt. The evidence was so serious that the court proceedings highlighted the gravity of his actions, which included attempts to groom minors and possession of indecent images.

In court, Revell pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including attempting to meet a child for sexual purposes, engaging in sexual communication with a minor, and possessing indecent images of children. The charges also involved downloading and creating indecent images, some of which depicted girls in sexual poses. His arrest in Manchester on January 26 followed his resignation from his position at Myton School, which he had only assumed in September of the previous year.

During the sentencing hearing, Judge Barry Berlin expressed his disapproval, stating that Revell should be “thoroughly ashamed of yourself.” Despite the severity of the case, the judge suspended Revell’s prison sentence, giving him a 14-month term suspended for two years, along with a requirement to undertake 150 hours of unpaid work and register as a sex offender for ten years. Additionally, Revell was ordered to pay costs of £425. The prosecutor, Andrew Wilkins, explained that the police’s intervention was prompted by Revell’s attempt to meet the girl in Manchester, which was orchestrated by the vigilante group. The case underscores the ongoing dangers posed by online predators and the importance of vigilant law enforcement and community groups in protecting minors from exploitation.