LEANN CURNOE FROM REDRUTH CAUGHT IN SEX GROOMING PLOT INVOLVING FAKE BOY IN CORNWALL

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Redruth and the surrounding areas in Cornwall, 22-year-old Leanne Curnoe found herself at the center of a serious criminal investigation involving attempted sexual grooming of a minor. The incident came to light after an elaborate sting operation, where a friend of Curnoe created a fake Facebook profile to expose her intentions.

According to court records, Curnoe was first brought before Truro Crown Court in late 2018, where she admitted to attempting to meet a child for sexual purposes. The case dates back to November 2018, when she pleaded guilty to the charge of attempting to meet a boy under the age of 16 with the intent to commit a sexual offence. The victim, a young boy whose identity remains protected due to his age, was targeted through online messaging, which revealed the disturbing nature of her intentions.

Prosecutor Philip Lee detailed the events leading to her arrest, explaining that a mutual acquaintance set up a fake Facebook account under the alias Richard Jones. This account was used to communicate with Curnoe, who was led to believe she was speaking with a 13-year-old boy. During the exchanges, the fictitious profile asked, “what do I get for £100,” to which Curnoe responded, “everything,” clearly indicating her willingness to engage in sexual activity for money.

Further evidence showed that Curnoe was observed waiting outside a night shelter on Basset Street in Camborne, where she had agreed to meet the supposed minor. However, she did not inform the police about this planned meeting. When questioned in February, Curnoe initially denied any knowledge of the messages or the situation but later admitted that she had been willing to engage in sexual acts in exchange for money and heroin, acknowledging her involvement when shown the messages.

Judge Simon Carr, presiding over the case, described the circumstances as “as sad as they are troubling.” He acknowledged her difficult background, noting her early departure from home, her struggles with homelessness, and her heroin addiction. The judge highlighted that Curnoe’s criminal activity was driven by her desperate circumstances, which included selling sex to fund her drug habit. He also mentioned unfounded rumors within the homeless community suggesting she had sold sex to underage boys, which she denied.

In her sentencing, Judge Carr emphasized her early guilty plea and her current efforts to seek help, including being on a methadone treatment program and voluntarily engaging with Addaction. As a result, Curnoe was sentenced to 18 months in prison, suspended for two years, along with a 25-day rehabilitation activity requirement aimed at addressing her homelessness and addiction issues.

Earlier, in November 2018, Curnoe had appeared in court to admit attempting to meet the underage boy, with her legal representative stating she had undergone a psychiatric assessment deeming her fit to plead. The court had adjourned her case for further evaluation and scheduled her sentencing for January 11, 2019. She was released on unconditional bail pending her sentencing hearing.

This case underscores the ongoing concerns about online grooming and the vulnerabilities faced by young people, as well as the importance of law enforcement efforts to combat such predatory behavior in Cornwall and beyond.