NORFOLK MAN SENTENCED TO SIX YEARS FOR ONLINE CHILD SEXUAL OFFENCES
A man from Thetford, Geoffrey Douthwaite, aged 59, has been jailed for six years following his conviction for attempting to engage in online sexual offences with multiple children.Douthwaite, who lived on Woodlands Drive, was identified through child 'decoy' stings carried out by online child abuse activist groups (OCAGs).
He created a Facebook profile under the pseudonym "Daffy Daffy" and interacted with 11 child decoys posing as minors aged between 11 and 14.
During these conversations, Douthwaite initiated contact and made inappropriate comments, showing awareness of the decoys’ ages and asking for nude photos and video calls.
He also mentioned being much older, calling himself a "creepy and dirty old man." Notably, he sent messages through Facebook chat to decoys he believed to be aged between 11 and 14, with one comment to a girl named 'Charlie' stating, "14 is the perfect age to see if someone is hot and I certainly think you are." Facebook messages were shared with police after the OCAG group confronted Douthwaite at his home, leading to his arrest on suspicion of engaging in sexual activity with a child and possession of indecent images.
A subsequent search of his home uncovered devices which were seized for examination, revealing further evidence of his online communications.
Douthwaite pleaded guilty at Norwich Crown Court on November 17 to eleven counts of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, five counts involving a girl aged 13 to 15, and other related charges, including attempting to incite a child to view sexual acts.
He was sentenced to six years in prison and had his devices destroyed.
The court also issued an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order against him.
Police emphasized the importance of public support in combatting such crimes, noting that activist groups had played a role in bringing this case to light and urging technology companies to enforce stronger protections online.
