PAUL DARLEY

MAN JAILED AFTER GROOMING ‘13-YEAR-OLD GIRL’ WHO WAS ACTUALLY UNDERCOVER COP

A man who was caught grooming a girl online with the intent to meet for sex has been sentenced to prison after it emerged he was communicating with an undercover police officer.

Paul Darley, aged 67, initiated contact with what he believed was a 13-year-old girl in a chatroom in May of this year.

During their conversations, he sent increasingly explicit messages, repeatedly inquired about her age, and implied that her age was suitable before arranging to meet her in Derby for sexual activity.

Unbeknownst to Darley, he was actually talking to an undercover officer.

He was arrested on 19 May in the parking lot of a McDonald’s in Markeaton Park after scheduling to meet the girl there at 10am that morning.

He faced charges of engaging in sexual communication with a minor and planning to engage in sexual activity with a minor, and was remanded to appear in court on 20 May.

A magistrate subsequently ordered Darley to remain in custody.

During a court hearing on 8 July, Darley, of Ackleton Gardens, Wolverhampton, admitted to the charges.

On 21 October, he appeared at Derby Crown Court and was sentenced to eight years and four months in prison.

Additionally, he received an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) and must stay registered with the police.