KARL WASLEY FROM THREEMILSTONE CAUGHT IN BRISTOL MEETING PREDATOR HUNTERS

In June 2022, a serious case of online grooming and attempted sexual predation unfolded involving Karl Wasley, a 56-year-old man from Threemilestone, near Truro. The incident began with Wasley's online interactions with a decoy profile, which was set up by paedophile hunters to catch individuals attempting to engage in sexual activities with minors.

According to court proceedings, the decoy profile was created on the social media platform Tagged, a site intended for users over 18, but the profile featured a picture manipulated with a face app to appear younger, resembling a girl who looked like a child. The decoy, posing as a 14-year-old girl named Scarlett, waited for messages from potential predators. On January 9, 2022, Wasley initiated contact, claiming he was interested in a young girl and engaging in grooming conversations.

Prosecutors detailed how Wasley's messages quickly turned inappropriate, with him complimenting the decoy, expressing a desire to date her, and making suggestive comments about kissing and cuddling. The conversations escalated to discussions about going for a drive, with Wasley indicating that the car might be hot, implying he wanted her to remove layers of clothing. Despite the decoy informing him of her real age and her school status, Wasley's interest persisted.

During the trial at Truro Crown Court, the prosecution, led by Emily Cook, explained that the profile was repeatedly removed from Tagged by moderators, only to be recreated and reactivated by the decoy. The conversations then moved to WhatsApp, where the language became more explicit, with Wasley referring to the girl as “his girl” and expressing a desire to kiss her and have her sit on his lap.

Wasley admitted to believing he was communicating with a 14-year-old girl and acknowledged that his intentions were driven by sexual gratification. However, he denied that he traveled to Bristol with the explicit purpose of committing a sexual offence. The evidence showed that he drove from Cornwall to Bristol Temple Meads railway station, intending to meet the girl he believed was a minor.

Upon arriving at the station, Wasley was confronted by members of a paedophile hunter group who had set up the decoy profile. Frightened and panicked, he drove away from the scene, causing damage to a taxi in the process. Later, police officers were waiting for him at his home in Threemilestone. The court heard that he then returned home to find law enforcement officers present, leading to his arrest.

Wasley's actions resulted in a guilty plea to attempted sexual communication with a child. The jury found him guilty of attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming, a charge he initially denied. During sentencing, he was given a 20-month prison term, with the stipulation that he serve half of that sentence before being eligible for release on licence. The case continues to be monitored, with further proceedings expected to take place in the coming days.