MARK THOMAS

HAVERHILL MAN GIVEN SUSPENDED SENTENCE FOR MESSAGING DECOY

A 44-year-old man who was caught by “paedophile hunters” after messaging a decoy child's social media account has been given a six month suspended sentence.

Mark Thomas, of Downs Crescent, Haverhill, was before Ipswich Crown Court on Wednesday after admitting an offence of attempting to engage in sexual communications with a child from March 10 2023 over the course of one month.

Thomas struck up a conversation over the dating app Mingle2 with a false account named Lilly May, who told him her age was 13-years-old.

The account was run by a “paedophile hunter” organisation, the court heard.

The defendant asked the girl to send pictures of herself and sent a picture of himself to her, it was said.

Following this, the group reported Thomas to police, and he was subsequently arrested.

In mitigation, the court heard no images of children were found on his devices and he had no prior convictions.

Mr Recorder Richard Christie KC said the offences were “extremely unpleasant” and imposed 150 hours of unpaid work along with 25 rehabilitation days, a prohibition on any contact with females under 16, and he was not allowed to use social apps which do not record full conversation histories.