MARTIN CASH IN LIVERPOOL AVOIDS JAIL AFTER ONLINE GROOMING INCIDENT

In September 2017, a married man from Liverpool narrowly avoided imprisonment after being caught in a vigilante sting related to online grooming. Martin Cash, aged 52 and residing on All Hallows Drive, Speke, was convinced he was communicating with a 13-year-old girl under the pseudonym Amy Rodgers. In reality, the contact was an adult posing as a minor, and part of a group called UK Guardian.

Cash engaged in online chat with the fake profile, which became increasingly sexual. During conversations, Cash expressed his desire to perform sex acts. Liverpool Crown Court was told that he agreed to meet the girl, claiming he would be recognizable by wearing Liverpool FC’s luminous orange third kit.

He instructed the profile to meet outside Woolton Post Office. However, instead of meeting a real young girl, two members of UK Guardian confronted him, leading to police involvement and his subsequent arrest.

Judge Richard Pratt QC described the case as “one of the most difficult balancing acts of his career” and ultimately sentenced Cash to a 12-month jail term, suspended for 12 months, meaning he was not to serve time unless he committed another offence within that period. This sentence followed a conviction for sexual grooming, which concluded on August 3.

The fake profile, created under the name Amy Rodgers, responded to Cash’s messages, claiming she was 13. Cash responded, “You’re not 24,” to which the profile replied, “I’m 13-years-old.” Cash then queried, “It’s an 18-year-old {website}, and added, “People talk naughty here,” before asking for her address and school.

Over the course of about two days, the messages became increasingly sexual, with Cash later asking about Amy’s parents and expressing the possibility that they might meet someday. An arrangement was made for this meeting.

Judge Pratt remarked, “Had you met a real child of this {13} age at this location, you would be going to prison. you exchanged grotesque sexual content with her, this contact happened over a matter of days. When you went to meet this 13-year-old, your motive was sexual. You have a most unhealthy proclivity towards children.”

As part of his sentence, Cash was ordered to observe an electronic curfew, requiring him to stay indoors between 9pm and 6:30am. He must also complete 40 days of rehabilitative activities and is required to sign the Sex Offenders Register for the next ten years.