IAN DAVID HUNTER, CHISWICK, SENTENCED FOR ONLINE PEDOPHILIA AND ASSAULT

In October 2007, Ian David Hunter, a 55-year-old unemployed man from Chiswick, was sentenced to two years in prison after admitting to sexual assault and possessing indecent images of children. Hunter, described as a predatory paedophile, had engaged in online grooming by posing as a fictional children's author on a social networking site popular with teenagers.

He created profiles under aliases such as 'Popcorn Puppy,' 'Lawndog,' and 'JL Seagull,' the latter claiming to be a children's author from Brighton. Hunter infiltrated a group of 14-year-old girls by joining their social network circle, gaining access to messages, photos of their friends and family, and posting messages in an attempt to blend in using abbreviations and slang.

Once accepted into the group, Hunter revealed he was a man in his 50s. Most of the girls soon distanced themselves, finding his presence inappropriate. However, some continued to communicate with him, allowing Hunter to learn about a school trip to the Tate Modern art gallery in Southwark.

At the gallery, Hunter approached one girl, introduced himself and expressed his desire for friendship, claiming he was 'not a pervert,' but then sexually assaulted her by touching her back. The girls, fearing Hunter’s intentions, took photographs of him on their mobile phones and called for staff and security. Hunter was expelled from the gallery and reported to the police.

He was subsequently arrested on November 17 of the previous year after a warrant was executed. A search of his home uncovered computers containing 21,242 indecent images of children, many of a severe and disturbing nature. Investigators also found that Hunter had applied for caretaker positions at two London girls’ schools and had communicated with a convicted sex offender currently incarcerated.

During proceedings in September, prosecutors obtained permission to present evidence of Hunter’s possession of the indecent images to demonstrate his status as a predatory paedophile motivated by more than loneliness—indicating he had taken steps to meet the girls and fulfill his abusive fantasies.

Following his sentencing, Detective Inspector David Gray commented, 'This is an insidious crime committed by a predatory male.' Additionally, two charges of grooming were ordered to lie on file.