PAUL CAMPS

Paul Camps, identified as a convicted pedophile, made a remark during his arrest for activities on Facebook, saying, 'this is a fucking pisstake.' When police arrived at his home following his latest misconduct, he exclaimed the same phrase.

Camps has a troubling history of repeatedly raping and sexually assaulting women and minors, which led to a life sentence in 2006.

Though released on licence five years prior to this incident, he was rearrested after attempting to online groom a 14-year-old girl.

However, he was unaware that he was part of a paedophile hunter operation.

During the sting, he messaged a decoy account saying, 'You were born naughty.

How naughty are you?' On July 16 this year, Camps, aged 57, contacted a profile created by Angels of Innocence—a group that uses social media profiles mimicking teenage girls on platforms like Facebook.

He initiated contact by describing the decoy as a 'cute lady' and, upon learning of the girl's age, responded, 'Sorry, too young.' Prosecutor Sarah Egan explained that Camps later changed his tone, repeating the phrase about being 'naughty' and expressing frustration, claiming he had deleted incriminating messages from his phone.

Despite searching his devices, no indecent images of children were found, as they were ultimately 'clean.' Camps' criminal history includes 12 convictions over 25 offences, such as raping and sexually assaulting women aged 16 or over in 1984, indecent assault of women aged 16 or over in 1985, and similar offences involving minors in 1987, 1990, and 1991.

He received a life sentence in 2006 for raping a woman over 16.

His criminal record indicates no specific offences related to child abuse after 1991, and he was released from prison in 2020.

He reported good conduct during his incarceration, where he worked as a chef and completed courses, including some addressing sexual offending.

Camps suffers from mental health issues such as psychosis, paranoia, anxiety, depression, and is believed to have dementia, alongside physical health problems like hearing loss and leg issues.

He pleaded guilty to one count of attempted sexual communication with a child, and was sentenced via videolink from HMP Liverpool to a year in prison and an indefinite sexual harm prevention order.

Judge Brian Cummings KC emphasized that Camps' extensive prior convictions for sexual offences, dating back to the 1980s, significantly aggravated his case.

He noted there had been a 15-year gap without offences after his 2006 rape conviction, but highlighted that the current attempt was persistent over four days.

The judge pointed out that Camps thought he was communicating with a minor, but was actually engaging with an adult.

Although the offence was incomplete, his actions indicated a clear intent to commit a sexual offence.