HEBDEN BRIDGE MAN JAILED FOR ONLINE GROOMING OF A MINOR
A 64-year-old Calderdale man, Patrick Lynch, began chatting online with an individual he believed was a 12-year-old girl, but the person was a decoy from an online 'predator hunter group'.Prosecutor Anthony Moore revealed that Lynch told the decoy she was only 12, yet he expressed a sexual interest, asking for a naked selfie and commenting that she would look more beautiful when she turned 13.
Lynch backed out of a planned meeting, claiming he had to work, but members of the group confronted him at an address where he was not present.
He was arrested after police received evidence from the group.
Lynch, of South View, Charleston, Hebden Bridge, admitted to offences of attempting to cause a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity and attempting to meet a child under 16 after sexual grooming.
Recorder Tony Watkin sentenced Lynch to two years and eleven months in prison, ordered him to register as a sex offender for life, and imposed an indefinite sexual harm prevention order.
