LEE COSTI, FROM HASLEMERE, JAILED IN NOTTINGHAM FOR INTERNET CHILD SEX OFFENSES

In June 2006, Lee Costi, a 21-year-old from Haslemere, Surrey, was sentenced to nine years in prison after being caught in a police web sting targeting online child exploitation. Costi, a media student, had already engaged in sexual activities with two underage girls before attempting to meet his third victim, a 14-year-old girl, at Nottingham railway station for sex.

He was the first individual in the UK to be apprehended through the Virtual Global Taskforce website—a collaborative international police initiative enabling children to report online grooming. Police became aware of Costi's plans after the girl disclosed his advances to her mother.

The Nottingham Crown Court heard that Costi had met two other girls, aged 13 and 14, via internet chat rooms and had sex with them. One girl spent an overnight stay with him at a Swindon hotel in August 2004, while another met him in an alley near Waterloo Station in London last January, where they engaged in sexual acts.

Judge Jonathan Teare sentenced Costi to three years each for the sexual encounters with the two girls, and an additional 18 months for encouraging his third victim to perform sex acts via her webcam. He also received 18 months for possessing over 40 indecent images of children, including a highly serious Level A image.

In delivering his judgment, Judge Teare stated, "You developed a totally unhealthy and depraved interest in young girls. Those girls who you talked to and abused were 13 or 14, but I have seen some of the images on your computer, which show an even more depraved interest in much younger girls."

He emphasized the grooming process: "You started by chatting to younger girls in chat rooms, grooming them... Although the future for those who have spoken with you seems promising, I am deeply concerned about young girls and the danger you pose. It must be clear that grooming, meeting, and engaging in sexual acts with minors is unlawful and carries severe punishment."

Detective Superintendent Jackie Alexander, head of Nottinghamshire Police's sexual exploitation unit, praised the bravery of the girl who reported Costi and warned that there may be other victims who are too frightened to come forward. Authorities uncovered 355 chat logs on Costi’s computer, mostly on teenspot.com and MSN Messenger, which detailed his interest in underage sex.

Mrs. Alexander commented, "We are fortunate that a brave Nottinghamshire girl was willing to tell her parents. It can be very difficult for young victims to come forward, often realizing their mistake afterward. There may be others out there who need help, and we encourage anyone with information to contact us."

Prosecutor Grace Hall revealed that the Nottinghamshire girl initially flattered by Costi’s attention wanted to impress her friends with their online relationship, saying, "She says she complied with his requests so she could tell her friends she wasn’t boring anymore."

Authorities had been tracking Costi as he arrived for a meeting with his third victim at the train station, but he failed to show up. Investigations traced him to his parents’ house through his computer records. The analysis of his PC also linked him to two other paedophiles in Poland and Hawaii, highlighting the extent of his online contacts.

The Virtual Global Taskforce, an international organization combating internet child abuse, encourages children to report suspicious activity online. These reports are monitored by Interpol and law enforcement agencies in the UK, Australia, the US, and Canada.

Defence lawyer Rupert Hallowes described Costi as a socially isolated, immature young man who had been bullied at school and diagnosed with depression. He added, "He developed a significant internet addiction, particularly to chatrooms, and has to accept that he was developing paedophilic tendencies."

Jim Gamble, head of the Virtual Global Taskforce, commented, "Child sex abuse is one of the gravest crimes. While the internet provides a vibrant environment for young people, it also presents risks. If anyone encounters inappropriate behavior, they should report it through our website, trusting the police to take appropriate action."