JASON POTTER SENTENCED IN DERBY FOR ONLINE SEXUAL OFFENCES INVOLVING A TEENAGER

In Derby, Jason Potter, a 37-year-old man, was caught on camera admitting to messaging what he believed was a 14-year-old girl on social media platforms in June 2019. Potter initially contacted a Facebook profile run by a paedophile hunting group, which used a fake account claiming to be a 14-year-old named Kayleigh. The group’s member Julie King explained that the account was operated by a group called Child Online Safety Team and depicted a girl approximately 14 years old.

Ms. King stated, "He [Potter] contacted that decoy on that page on June 12, 2019." After exchanging greetings, the fake profile revealed her age, and Potter responded by stating he was 20. He then asked if she wanted to video chat or voice call, but when she declined, citing she was in bed, he pressured her for a picture. The girl informed him that there were pictures on her Facebook profile.

Potter then made inappropriate comments, telling her, "I’m sorry to say this but you’re so sexy and have big boobs." He continued to contact her, requesting a video chat and even asking if she wanted to see his penis. In response to her question about whether he was allowed, he sent a photo of his genitals, which she described as "ugly and strange." He also pushed for nude images, asking her to show her boobs.

The next day, Potter messaged her again. At that point, members of the group tracked him down and confronted him at his home in Chaddesden, where he denied any wrongdoing, claiming his messages were due to being hacked and asserting he had spoken to multiple girls over the age of 18. He told the police he had not seen that she declared her age as 14.

Julie King explained that Potter was arrested after the confrontation. Potter pleaded guilty to attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and appeared in court on April 16 for sentencing. Court reports indicated that Potter, who has not yet informed his parents about his actions and currently resides with his sister after moving out of his parents' house, received a two-year community order. He was also mandated to undergo 55 hours of rehabilitation activities and complete 180 hours of unpaid work.

Additionally, Potter was ordered to register as a sex offender for five years and was issued a sexual harm prevention order for the same duration.