GLYN STAINES CAUGHT IN LANGRICK POLICE OPERATION AFTER ONLINE SEXUAL PREDATION

In a serious case of online predatory behavior, Glyn Staines, a man from Langrick, was apprehended by police after he engaged in a dangerous and illegal conversation with what he believed was a 13-year-old girl. The incident unfolded in January 2021, when law enforcement officers set a trap by posing as a young girl named Keira in an internet chatroom frequented by teenagers.

According to court reports, Glyn Staines, who was 45 years old at the time, quickly shifted the tone of the conversation to sexual topics shortly after initiating contact. He expressed a desire to have sexual relations with the girl and proceeded to send explicit photographs of himself, including images of his penis. Over a span of two days, Staines sent approximately 100 messages to the individual he believed was Keira, despite her repeatedly stating that she was only 13 years old.

Unbeknownst to him, the person on the other end of the chat was an undercover police officer, who was posing as a young girl to catch predators like Staines. During the exchanges, Staines also claimed to be wealthy and offered to act as a 'sugar daddy,' further attempting to lure the fictitious minor into a meeting. He boasted about owning a golf course design company in Florida and suggested they meet in person, inviting her to his house.

After two days of communication, Staines ceased responding to further messages from the decoy. When police traced his digital footprint, they successfully located and arrested him. It was revealed that Staines had no prior convictions, but he had previously received a police caution in 2011 for possession of 11 indecent images of children.

Glyn Staines, now aged 47 and residing on Armtree Road in Langrick, admitted to attempting to engage in sexual activity with a child on the dates of 25 and 26 March 2019. He also confessed to possessing 20 indecent images of children, which were discovered following his arrest.

In court, Staines was sentenced to four months in prison, suspended for two years. Additionally, he was ordered to participate in a sex offender group work program and complete up to 40 days of rehabilitation activities. He was also placed on the sex offenders' register for a period of seven years and issued a five-year sexual harm prevention order, reflecting the seriousness of his offenses and the ongoing risk he poses.