PAUL WEBB FROM HAYDON WICK CAUGHT IN DISTURBING ONLINE SEXUAL PLOT WITH 13-YEAR-OLD BOY IN SWINDON

In a disturbing case that has shocked the local community of Haydon Wick, Paul Webb, a 20-year-old man, was found guilty of attempting to engage in sexual activity with a minor through online communication. The incident came to light after Webb initiated contact with a 13-year-old boy via Facebook, leading to a series of messages that quickly turned inappropriate and sexually explicit.

According to court reports, Webb knew the young victim through mutual friends and family members, which initially made the boy feel comfortable replying to his messages. The communication began in a seemingly innocent manner, with Webb asking the boy questions like, "Where are you?" and "Just chilling," to which the boy responded that he was relaxing in his room. However, the tone soon shifted as Webb started making sexual advances.

Prosecutor Hannah Squire detailed the exchanges that took place in autumn 2016 at Swindon Crown Court. Webb sent messages asking if the boy had an erection and even inquired if he had seen Webb’s own. The young boy responded politely, clearly indicating he was not interested, saying, "No thank you," and "No I don’t want to." Despite this, Webb persisted, asking if he could perform a sexual act on the boy. The victim reiterated his disinterest, stating, "I am only 13, I am not gay and I don’t want to do anything with you, sorry." Webb continued to push, suggesting he could come over and perform oral sex, but the boy firmly declined, replying, "I don’t want you. Bye. You seem very nice but I am not interested."

After the incident, the victim confided in older friends, who helped him identify Webb. The matter was promptly reported to the police, leading to Webb’s arrest and subsequent court proceedings. Webb pleaded guilty to charges of inciting a child to engage in penetrative sexual activity.

During sentencing, Recorder Michael Vere-Hodge QC emphasized the seriousness of Webb’s actions, stating, "You or others who hear about this should understand that if people do commit this kind of offence they go to prison." However, the judge also acknowledged Webb’s potential for rehabilitation. Instead of a custodial sentence, he imposed a two-year community order, which includes 20 days of rehabilitation activities, 100 hours of unpaid work, and participation in a sex offenders’ programme. Additionally, Webb is required to register as a sex offender for five years, reflecting the gravity of his misconduct and the importance of monitoring his future conduct.

This case highlights the ongoing concerns about online grooming and the importance of vigilance among parents, guardians, and young people to prevent such disturbing incidents from occurring in the future.