NOTTINGHAM MAN RECEIVES SUSPENDED SENTENCE FOR ONLINE GROOMING OF 13-YEAR-OLD GIRL
A paedophile from Nottingham groomed a 13-year-old girl online and sent her a video of him pleasuring himself for his own sexual gratification.Nottingham Crown Court heard how warehouse worker Martin Paterson, aged 47, of Beeston, believed he was gaining the trust of the underage victim, who clearly communicated her age in their chats by discussing school and boys.
However, in reality, the girl was a decoy set up by groups targeting online paedophiles for police intervention.
The court was told that Paterson thought he was talking to a child aged 13, and over a period of three or four weeks, their conversations became sexual in nature, culminating in his sending a pornographic video of himself touching his genitals.
Judge Mark Watson sentenced Paterson to a 12-month jail term, suspended for two years.
The judge stated that Paterson believed he was talking to a girl of 13, and he discussed topics like school and boys before sending the explicit video to her for thrill-seeking reasons.
Paterson also admitted to viewing child pornography websites, indicating a sexual interest in children.
He pleaded guilty to attempting to engage a girl in sexual communication and attempting to get a child to watch a sexual act.
The court heard that Paterson had no previous convictions.
Mitigating counsel Boanca Brasoveanu described him as lonely, isolated, and fearful of rejection, expressing deep shame and regret and a desire to lead a normal life.
The judge ordered him to attend a 43-day sex offender treatment programme, participate in 15 rehabilitation sessions, register as a sex offender for 10 years, and imposed a 10-year sexual harm prevention order.
