Ipswich ‘grandpa’ sentenced for sexual chat with decoy, 12

IPSWICH ‘GRANDPA’ SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL CHAT WITH DECOY, 12

A man from Ipswich who made sexual suggestions to a decoy posing as a schoolgirl has been ordered to complete unpaid work.

Karl Moseley was before Suffolk Magistrates’ Court in Ipswich on Tuesday, where he had previously admitted sending messages via social media to what he believed was a 12-year-old girl.

Unbeknownst to him, the girl was actually an adult decoy.

The court heard that the decoy had told Moseley “categorically” that she was 12 years old.

Moseley, who was sending her messages under the handle 'Grandpa61', then made comments about experiences he did not expect the girl had known before and made suggestions to her of a sexual nature.

Moseley, now 63, who the court heard is a grandfather, admitted attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child between July 10 and 19 last year.

It was said that he sent about 20 messages which were sexual in tone.

The court heard that when Moseley was arrested, he cooperated fully with the investigation and was “deeply remorseful, ashamed and embarrassed” of his actions.

It was said his behaviour stemmed from “boredom, social anxiety, and simply wanting to speak to someone,” and he was experiencing “considerable psychological strain” at the time.

Moseley, of Cauldwell Hall Road, Ipswich, was handed a community order for 18 months, requiring him to complete 150 hours of unpaid work and up to 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days.

He was also ordered to pay court costs of £110 and a surcharge of £114 towards victims’ services.

The article explains that 'decoys' are adults who use online profiles claiming to be young people under the age of consent, making their age clear in their messages, and charges can be brought against those who send sexual messages to these 'decoys' believing they are communicating with a real child, hence the addition of “attempted” in the charge.