OLDHAM MAN, 42, CAUGHT GROOMING UNDERAGE GIRL ONLINE
An online paedophile hunters group caught Martin Campbell, a 42-year-old man living in Ripponden Road, Oldham, who had been communicating with a girl he believed was 13 years old through messaging apps.The court heard that Campbell sent an indecent picture and arranged to meet the girl for a sexual encounter.
Prosecutor Duncan Wilcock stated that when Campbell arrived at the meeting point, he was confronted by members of the Child Online Safety Team.
Campbell denied he was meeting a minor, claiming he was there to meet his sister, but messages he sent had already been shown to him, revealing his intentions.
He was detained and arrested after the police were alerted.
Campbell pleaded guilty to attempted sexual communication with a minor and attempting to meet a child for grooming.
The judge, Sophie McKone, bailed Campbell until July 14 due to concerns over his remorse, as he provided inconsistent accounts to probation and psychologists about his feelings towards the offenses.
