PETER MITCHELL FROM BLIDWORTH CAUGHT IN DERBY ONLINE GROOMING SCHEME

In a case that highlights the ongoing battle against online child exploitation, Peter Mitchell, a 50-year-old resident of Blidworth, Nottinghamshire, was brought before Derby Crown Court in September 2014 to face serious charges related to grooming and possession of indecent images of children.

Mitchell’s arrest and subsequent conviction stemmed from an undercover operation conducted by the Online Predator Investigation Team (OPIT), a vigilante group based in Derby that aims to combat online grooming through sting operations. The team set up multiple fake Facebook profiles of underage girls, aged between 12 and 14, to lure potential predators and gather evidence against them.

During the investigation, Mitchell engaged in extensive messaging with the fictitious girls, whom OPIT had created. These conversations included graphic and explicit content, with Mitchell expressing his sexual desires and making arrangements to meet the girls in person. One of the messages from Mitchell to “Laura” included a warning to bring a spare pair of pants, implying an intent to engage in sexual activity. He also sent a photo of his genitals to the fake profile.

Mitchell’s interactions with the fake profiles revealed his plans to meet the girls at Alvaston Park in Derby and a Tesco car park in Alfreton, Derbyshire. He discussed bringing alcohol and suggested that after drinking, the girls would be more receptive to his advances. Despite being aware that the girls were underage, Mitchell continued to pursue the meetings, which he believed would lead to sexual encounters.

In one of the encounters, Mitchell arrived at the designated meeting point but quickly drove away when he realized he was being filmed by OPIT. The team followed him into the park, capturing footage of his attempt to meet the girl. On another occasion, he waited in his car at the Tesco in Alfreton, only to drive off again when he noticed he was being recorded.

Mitchell’s actions did not go unnoticed. OPIT collected a substantial amount of digital evidence, including over 3,500 messages exchanged over the course of a week. The evidence was compiled onto CDs and handed over to Derbyshire police for further investigation. The police, however, expressed mixed feelings about vigilante groups conducting such operations, emphasizing that investigations should be left to law enforcement authorities.

Following his arrest, Mitchell was found to have images of children of a sexual nature stored on his computer. He admitted to the charges and pleaded guilty to four counts, including attempting to meet a girl under 16 for sexual purposes and making indecent images of children. His guilty plea was entered during the hearing on September 25, 2014.

Judge John Burgess sentenced Mitchell to a three-year community order and ordered him to register as a sex offender. The court was told that Mitchell had made lifestyle changes since the sting, including replacing his phone with a simpler model and changing jobs to avoid contact with children.

Throughout the proceedings, Mitchell expressed remorse, stating outside court that he felt ashamed of his actions. The case has once again raised concerns about the effectiveness of police efforts to combat online grooming and the role vigilante groups play in filling the gaps. Experts like Jim Gamble, former director of the national Child Exploitation and Online Protection agency, have called for the formal integration of volunteer “digital detectives” into police operations, arguing that such initiatives could help prevent future crimes.

In the wake of Mitchell’s case, Derbyshire police’s public protection department emphasized their openness to receiving information from vigilante groups but cautioned that all investigations should ultimately be conducted by law enforcement to ensure proper legal procedures are followed. The case underscores the ongoing challenge of safeguarding children in the digital age and the importance of coordinated efforts between police and community volunteers.