DUNCAN RUSSELL FROM BERRY BROW SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEX OFFENCES IN AYLESBURY

In a disturbing case that unfolded in Aylesbury, Bucks, Duncan Russell, a man residing in Berry Brow, was confronted by paedophile hunters on his very first day working as a pub bouncer. The incident, which took place in December 2018, led to his arrest and subsequent imprisonment for over five years. Russell, aged 47 at the time, believed he was engaging in a conversation with a young girl online over a span of 13 days, but in reality, he was communicating with an adult acting as a decoy. This decoy was part of an anti-paedophile initiative called Innocent Voices, which aims to catch individuals attempting to exploit minors.

According to court proceedings, the decoy's profile was carefully crafted to appear as a 12-year-old girl. The conversation revealed that Russell, then 46, had requested to befriend her on Facebook and was quick to acknowledge her age, repeatedly stating, 'well, I am 12.' Despite her clarifications, he continued to engage in inappropriate discussions, making it clear he understood he was talking to a minor. Prosecutor Janette Hayne detailed how Russell expressed his awareness of the legal risks, saying, 'go to law, go to jail if I am talking to you,' during their exchanges.

The court heard that Russell sent a topless photograph of himself to the decoy and asked her to imagine herself nude, requesting explicit images in return. He also instructed her to squeeze her breasts as a birthday gift and encouraged her to touch herself, providing guidance on masturbation. During their chats, Russell claimed that most girls her age had already engaged in sexual activity and even asserted that he had sex with girls her age, further demonstrating his predatory intent. To avoid suspicion, he insisted that they delete their chat logs at the end of each day, citing concerns about getting into trouble.

The confrontation outside the pub in Aylesbury occurred on December 8, 2018, just as Russell was beginning his shift. Members of the paedophile hunting team intercepted him, presenting the chat logs and demanding an explanation. Despite previous convictions, Russell had no record of sex offenses, and he initially responded with a 'no comment' during police interviews. He later claimed he had not engaged in any sexual acts with underage girls, contradicting his earlier admissions.

Following his plea, Russell admitted to three serious offenses: attempting to engage in sexual contact with a child, attempting to incite a girl to perform sexual acts with penetration, and attempting to incite a girl to engage in sexual acts with penetration. After admitting guilt, he went on the run for seven months before being apprehended through a police warrant. During his court appearance via video link from HMP Bullingdon, Neil Jarvis, his defense lawyer, expressed remorse and highlighted Russell's role as a father of two young children, aged six and three. Jarvis explained that the breakdown of Russell's marriage in northern England appeared to have contributed to his offending behavior and that Russell was seeking psychological help and a fresh start away from his previous environment.

Judge Francis Sheridan sentenced Russell to five years and three months in prison. The judge also imposed an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order, restricting him from having contact with any children except his own, under court-approved conditions. In his sentencing remarks, Judge Sheridan emphasized the gravity of Russell's actions, noting that he knowingly engaged with a decoy he believed was a 12-year-old girl, using Facebook to make contact and attempting to conceal his activities out of fear of legal repercussions. The judge described Russell as a troubling individual who posed a significant risk to children in the future.

Following the sentencing, a spokesperson for Innocent Voices expressed satisfaction with the outcome, stating, 'We are really pleased that Russell has got a sentence and will be on the Sex Offenders’ Register for life.' They recounted how Russell, on December 8, 2018, was about to start his new job as a security guard in Aylesbury but was stopped outside the pub by the hunting team. The team detailed how Russell had engaged in sexually explicit conversations, sent indecent images, and attempted to persuade the decoy to engage in sexual acts, including masturbation and sex. Despite attempts to destroy his phone, he failed, and he evaded arrest for nearly a year while continuing to work at various events across the UK. The spokesperson criticized the failure of the DSB and SIA licensing systems to prevent him from working despite his known conduct, calling for better safeguards to protect children from individuals with prior investigations or bail conditions related to child sex offenses.