PAUL CARTWRIGHT FROM ST ALBANS CAUGHT IN POLICE STING AT GALLERIA IN HATFIELD
In a disturbing case that unfolded in Hatfield, a man from St Albans, Paul Cartwright, was caught in a police sting operation at the Galleria shopping centre.The incident involved Cartwright, aged 56, who had traveled to the shopping mall with the intent to meet an 11-year-old girl named Demi, for whom he had brought a packet of Haribo candies, believing he was about to engage in inappropriate activity.
For over a month prior to his arrest, Cartwright had been communicating with what he thought was the child's aunt, identified as Liv.
However, it was later revealed that Liv was actually a decoy police officer assigned to the operation.
The exchanges between Cartwright and the decoy included explicit messages sent via the Kik messaging app.
Prosecutor Timothy Devlin told St Albans Crown Court that during these exchanges, Cartwright had expressed his anticipation of meeting the girl, even stating he was “looking forward to her (the girl’s) newness.” On January 20th of this year, Cartwright arrived at the Galleria shopping centre carrying a bar of Galaxy chocolate for the supposed aunt and the Haribo for the young girl.
He was greeted by the decoy officer, Liv, who then accompanied him to the car park.
It was at this point that police officers moved in to arrest him.
During police interviews, Cartwright claimed that all his intentions were purely fantasy and that he had no real plans to harm anyone.
As an engineer by profession, Paul Cartwright appeared before the court to face sentencing after admitting to charges related to arranging or facilitating child sex offences that took place between December 20, 2021, and January 20, 2022.
The court heard that he had engaged in explicit conversations with the decoy officer during this period, which demonstrated a clear intent to commit a serious offence.
Judge Lana Wood addressed Cartwright directly, emphasizing that he had been given multiple opportunities during his interactions with the decoy to withdraw from his plans but chose not to.
She sentenced him to 24 months in prison, though this sentence was suspended for 24 months, meaning he would not serve time unless he committed further offences within that period.
Additionally, Cartwright was ordered to complete 35 days of rehabilitation programs and perform 200 hours of unpaid community service.
He is also required to participate in a three-month alcohol abstinence monitoring scheme.
Furthermore, his Samsung phone was confiscated, and he is mandated to register as a sex offender.
He will also be subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for the next ten years, which imposes strict restrictions on his conduct to protect the public from potential harm.
