MAURICE INGRAM CAUGHT IN SUTTON COLDFIELD PAEDOPHILE STING AT HARTSHILL HAYES

In November 2013, a disturbing case unfolded involving Maurice Ingram, a 67-year-old resident of Harman Road in Sutton Coldfield, who found himself at the center of a serious criminal investigation related to online sexual grooming. The incident began when Ingram traveled to Hartshill Hayes Country Park in Nuneaton, expecting to meet a teenage girl for oral sex, based on an explicit online chat. However, the entire encounter was part of a sting operation conducted by vigilantes aiming to catch online predators.

It was revealed during court proceedings that the girl, named ‘Jodie,’ did not actually exist. The profile of Jodie was created by self-styled vigilantes, including individuals named Kieran Parsons and David Riley, who had set up a fake online persona to lure potential offenders. The profile was hosted on a social chat network that was intended for users over 18, but it was designed to appear as if it belonged to a 15-year-old girl from Nuneaton. The profile included a photograph of an 18-plus girl, with the explicit intent that anyone who contacted her would be told she was only 15.

Two days after the profile was created, Ingram initiated contact with the alias ‘Mike 61,’ expressing admiration and making inappropriate comments about the girl’s appearance. Ingram’s messages indicated a desire to meet, with him stating, “You look gorgeous. Shame I’m too old for you,” to which the fictitious Jodie responded, “I’m 15, and I like older men.” The conversation quickly escalated to discussions about meeting in person, with Ingram revealing his preferences for sexual acts, including oral sex, and arranging to meet at Hartshill Hayes Country Park.

In the lead-up to the meeting, Ingram expressed some hesitation, writing, “I’m a bit scared; you’re so young. I don’t want to get into trouble,” but he proceeded to the designated location nonetheless. Upon arrival, he was confronted by Kieran Parsons and his associate, who recorded the encounter. During the confrontation, Ingram admitted he was there to meet the girl but claimed he intended to tell her he did not want to go through with it. The judge, Sylvia de Bertodano, clarified that the meeting did not occur because the girl was not real, not due to a change of heart on Ingram’s part.

Earlier in July 2013, Ingram’s case was adjourned because he was undergoing radiotherapy for an acute form of cancer. Judge Alan Parker had expressed concern that immediate imprisonment might be life-threatening, noting that “to jail Ingram straight away might be sentencing him to death.” His defense, represented by Laura Cully, emphasized that Ingram was a severely ill man, still undergoing treatment and awaiting blood test results to determine the success of his therapy. Despite this, the judge acknowledged that Ingram was strong enough to serve a custodial sentence if necessary.

During the proceedings, it was revealed that Ingram, a respected university lecturer for 25 years before his retirement, had begun speaking to adult women online, some of whom were not involved in sexual conversations. His actions were partly motivated by a desire to reach out and make friends, but he continued the conversation when the girl claimed she was underage. The incident was further compounded by the fact that vigilante filmmaker Kieran Parsons had recorded the encounter and uploaded it online, where it garnered approximately 80,000 views.

Ingram’s arrest and subsequent court case had a profound impact on his life. Since the incident, he faced social ostracism, lost friends and neighbors, and had to install additional security measures at his home. He also expressed a desire to leave the Sutton Coldfield area to escape the fallout.

Judge Sylvia de Bertodano sentenced Ingram to 12 months in prison, ordered him to register as a sex offender for ten years, and imposed a sexual offences prevention order to restrict his contact with minors. The judge emphasized the seriousness of the offense, stating, “The reason you are here is because you were trying to meet a young girl on a chat site. It is extremely fortunate there was no real girl in this case, but there might have been. We see regularly in these courts cases where real 15-year-olds are targeted in this way.” She further remarked that if the girl had been real, the acts Ingram intended would likely have taken place. Despite his medical condition and the severe consequences he had already suffered, the court made it clear that a custodial sentence was necessary to uphold public safety and send a strong message that adults attempting to meet children for sexual purposes would face imprisonment.