KEITH WESTGARTH'S DEVIOUS PLOT IN FOLKESTONE: INTERNET PREDATOR'S 28-MONTH SENTENCE

In March 2012, a disturbing case of online deception and grooming came to light involving Keith Westgarth, a resident of Folkestone. The case centered around a teenage girl who narrowly escaped falling victim to a calculated scheme orchestrated by Westgarth, a man with a troubling criminal history.

Westgarth, who was 56 years old at the time, exploited the anonymity provided by social media platforms to target a young girl. Under the false identity of a 17-year-old named Zac, he engaged in a prolonged online relationship with her, during which he maintained a facade that he was close in age and shared similar interests. The girl, believing she was communicating with a peer, developed a close connection, even running up a £400 phone bill in the process.

It was later revealed that Zac was not a teenager at all, but rather a middle-aged man with a criminal past. Westgarth had previously served time in prison for sexual offenses involving a child. His criminal record included a conviction for engaging in sexual activity with a minor, and he was subject to strict notification requirements that prohibited him from using aliases or false identities.

Despite these legal restrictions, Westgarth continued his manipulative behavior. He went as far as posting a photograph of another young person online, claiming it was Zac, and enlisted his 21-year-old partner to pose as his sister. This accomplice was used to lure the girl into further deception, creating a complex web of lies over several months. The deception was so sophisticated that it included a staged meeting in Folkestone, where a car driven by an older male, believed to be Westgarth, arrived to meet the girl.

According to prosecutor James Bilsland, the girl believed she was in a genuine relationship with Zac, and they had spoken regularly without ever having met face-to-face. Tensions escalated when the girl traveled to Folkestone, seeking to meet her online boyfriend. She was told Westgarth would come to find her, but instead, she was contacted by someone claiming to be Zac’s sister. This individual, later identified as Westgarth, continued the deception, even visiting her at her home in Maidstone and discussing the possibility of sharing a flat together.

Eventually, the girl became suspicious when a man matching Zac’s online profile arrived, but he knew nothing about her personal details. The situation grew more alarming when the ‘sister’ visited her and spoke in a manner that suggested they were planning a joint living arrangement. The girl later received a phone call hinting that Zac was actually a middle-aged man, prompting her to report the incident to the police.

Despite police warnings for Westgarth to cease contact, he persisted in messaging her via Twitter. His continued harassment led to his arrest on a second charge. It was also revealed that Westgarth had previously been jailed for 16 months at Maidstone Crown Court on three counts of sexual activity with a child. His license was revoked, and he was recalled to prison, highlighting his ongoing risk to the community.

Westgarth was legally obligated to inform authorities if he used any aliases, a requirement he violated, which could have resulted in a maximum sentence of five years. Instead, he faced a 28-month prison sentence handed down at Canterbury Crown Court after admitting the charges. The court also imposed a Sexual Offences Prevention Order to prevent further offenses.

During the hearing, defense lawyer Paul Jarvis argued that Westgarth’s conduct was halted before any illegal acts occurred. He described his client as having a low IQ and a learning disability, suggesting that some might see him as having the mind of a child or as a dangerous predator. However, Judge Adele Williams emphasized the seriousness of Westgarth’s actions, noting that he posed a significant risk to children and had engaged in grooming behavior through social media.

Judge Williams highlighted the premeditated nature of the deception, which lasted several months, and pointed out Westgarth’s ongoing sexual attraction to teenage girls. She assessed his risk of re-offending as ‘high’ and sentenced him to a total of two years and four months in prison, also issuing a Sexual Offences Prevention Order to restrict his future conduct.