78-YEAR-OLD MAN SENTENCED FOR ONLINE GROOMING AND CHILD SEXUAL OFFENCES
A sexually motivated offender, George Gleed, aged 78, was caught by online paedophile hunters after he sent a graphic image of his penis to a decoy he believed was a 14-year-old girl.He also attempted to meet the girl at Cyfarthfa Shopping Park in Merthyr Tydfil on June 8, 2022, with plans to engage in sexual activity.
Gleed expressed his desire to kiss and sexually touch her, and offered to buy her a car when she was of age.
Throughout the conversations, he sent sexualised messages, including a photograph of his genitals, and asked for explicit photos from the decoy.
He also referenced wanting to travel to Cardiff to meet her and allegedly planned to indulge in sexual acts, including intentions to 'spoil her' and make sexual contact.
On the day of the intended meeting, Gleed revealed his plans to take her to McDonald's and go for a drive, where he intended to kiss her all over her body.
Prior to this, Gleed had a long criminal history with 15 previous convictions, including indecent assault on a child under 14 in 1991.
During the sentencing at Cardiff Crown Court, he pleaded guilty to charges of attempting to meet a child under 16 following grooming, inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, and attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child.
The court acknowledged the significant delay in proceedings, which caused concern.
Ultimately, Gleed was sentenced to 21 months' imprisonment, suspended for 21 months.
He was also ordered to complete a 30-day rehabilitation activity, pay £1,000 in costs, register as a sex offender for 10 years, and was subject to a five-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
