IAN MACE FROM ANDOVER SENTENCED TO 30 MONTHS IN SCOTLAND
An Andover man, Ian Mace, has been sentenced to 30 months in prison after traveling hundreds of miles in an attempt to meet a 14-year-old girl for sexual activity, only to be intercepted by a paedophile hunters group.Earlier this year, it was reported that 51-year-old Mace drove approximately 400 miles to Scotland believing he would meet a teenager he had been communicating with online.
It is understood that Mace had exchanged thousands of messages on WhatsApp and the app Highfive over the course of a month.
However, upon arriving at the designated meeting point, he found that 'Kelly,' the girl he thought he was communicating with, was not there.
Instead, he encountered members of 'Rising Against Online Predators,' a volunteer group committed to identifying and apprehending individuals who exploit children online.
The group describes itself as 'a team who endeavour to take as many people who sexually exploit children online off the streets to make it a better place for children to grow up.' Mace had previously appeared at Hamilton Sheriff Court, where he admitted to communicating indecently with 'Kelly' and attempting to meet her between February and March 2018.
On August 21, last Friday, Mace was sentenced to 30 months imprisonment for his actions.
A statement from Hamilton Sheriff Court clarified that, after considering various reports, the court found no alternative suitable punishment and sentenced Mace to six months imprisonment on one charge.
Additionally, he received a sentence of 24 months on another charge, to run consecutively to the first, making a total of 30 months.
The court also ordered Mace to be placed on the sex offenders' register.
Mace was present during his sentencing.
