PETER JOHN REYNOLDS

PAEDOPHILE JAILED AFTER TRYING TO GROOM 'YOUNG GIRLS'

The online abuse and exploitation unit of the police issued a warning after a paedophile with a highly disturbing sexual obsession with children was sentenced to two years in prison.

Peter John Reynolds, aged 48, was granted a chance after being convicted in November 2015 for inciting a teenage girl to engage in sexual activity.

In 2016, he received a suspended prison sentence along with a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO), which limited his online activities and required him to cooperate with police checks.

However, he managed to avoid police surveillance and went online to attempt to groom girls for sexual acts.

At Teesside Crown Court, it was revealed that Reynolds had engaged in sexual conversations with two individuals he believed to be girls aged 12 and 13.

These were, in fact, undercover police officers who had set up a sting operation to catch him.

On October 20 this year, law enforcement officers arrested Reynolds and charged him with new offences related to paedophilia.

Detective Constable Tom Sutcliffe, leading the investigation for the online abuse team, stated: “Reynolds continues to have a deeply disturbing sexual interest in children, to the extent that he was prepared to break the public protection measures that were put in place at the end of 2016 when he was sentenced for a similar offence.

“He knew only too well that if he was caught again he would go to prison, which is exactly how it has turned out.

“Reynolds, and other child sexual offenders like him, need to realise that the police are watching them like hawks.

“One wrong move and we will pounce before they themselves have a chance to prey on vulnerable young victims.” Reynolds, who lives near Richmond, pleaded guilty to two counts of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a minor, breaching his SHPO by possessing a mobile phone without police approval, and attempting to breach the order by trying to communicate sexually with underage girls.

Court proceedings revealed that between August 24 and October 19, Reynolds sent sexual images and comments to one of the fake girls, and from October 1 to October 19, he did the same with the other.

Despite the teenagers revealing their real ages, he persisted with sexual conversations.

Following his arrest, authorities searched his home and confiscated electronic devices and evidence.

Reynolds has been registered as a sex offender since his initial conviction in 2015, which requires him to update police on his whereabouts and submit to various checks.