KEVIN ASTBURY

MAN JAILED FOR GROOMING AND POSSESSING SICK IMAGES

A 65-year-old man named Kevin Astbury, residing in Central Grove, Rudheath, was apprehended by paedophile hunters after he sent alarming messages to what he believed was a 13-year-old girl.

He engaged in sexually explicit communication with the supposed girl from June 22 to July 9, 2022, and had intentions of meeting her before deciding against it at the last moment.

The vigilantes, who had been posing as an underage girl in messages, visited his home to confront him and also contacted police authorities.

During their investigation, officers recovered his electronic devices and uncovered thousands of indecent images, including 3,755 depicting animals, with some dating back to 2015.

On February 21, Astbury appeared at Chester Crown Court where he admitted to charges such as possession of extreme pornography, attempting to encourage a girl aged 13-15 to engage in sexual activity, an adult trying to communicate sexually with a minor, and meeting a girl under 16 after grooming her.

He was sentenced to a prison term of three years and four months, ordered to register as a sex offender for life, and subject to an ongoing sexual harm prevention order.

Detective Constable Kelly Mitchell described the case, stating, "This behavior, including his efforts to communicate and encourage what he thought was a child to perform sexual acts, is not only criminal but also deeply disturbing and unimaginable.

I am glad to see that Astbury will spend time behind bars for his distorted actions."