GARY LEWENDON CAUGHT IN HEADINGTON PAEDOPHILE HUNT AND SENTENCED TO SUSPENDED PRISON
In April 2018, a man from Headington, identified as Gary Lewendon, found himself at the center of a serious criminal investigation after being confronted by a group of paedophile hunters at his residence.The incident unfolded after Lewendon engaged in a series of disturbing online exchanges with an individual he believed to be a 13-year-old girl.
These exchanges took place between August and December of the previous year, during which Lewendon sent numerous messages encouraging the girl to send explicit images of herself.
In addition to these solicitations, he also transmitted indecent photographs of himself and a video depicting a sexual act.
Despite his efforts to arrange a meeting with the supposed teenager, Lewendon ultimately withdrew from the plans at the last moment, avoiding what could have been a more serious confrontation.
The case was brought before Oxford Crown Court, where Mark Stevens, the prosecutor, detailed the events of the investigation.
On Thursday, it was revealed that Lewendon, aged 44, returned to his home on Mather Road in Headington on December 11.
It was at this address that he was met by two members of the paedophile hunting group known as Capital OCP.
These hunters had been provided with Lewendon’s information by the woman posing as the young girl, who is affiliated with a similar group based in northern England.
The confrontation led to Lewendon’s arrest and subsequent guilty plea to multiple charges.
Specifically, he admitted to attempting to incite a child under the age of 16 to engage in sexual activity, as well as attempting to persuade a minor to view images of a sexual nature.
The court sentenced Lewendon to 18 months in prison, but this sentence was suspended for two years, meaning he will not serve time unless he commits further offences within that period.
