KEIGHLEY MAN SENT SEXUAL MESSAGES TO DECOY SCHOOLGIRLS
A man who sent sexual messages to girls aged 10, 12, and 13 not realising they were in fact decoy profiles run by adults has been locked up for two-and-a-half years.Richard Jackson, 43, was arrested at his home on North Street, Keighley, after being confronted by a paedophile hunter group.
He later denied having a sexual interest in children.
Bradford Crown Court heard how, between March and May 2024, Jackson began chatting online to the three girls.
The conversations quickly became sexual with Jackson telling the 10-year-old that she was pretty and asking questions about her underwear.
He said he would love to see her naked and asked for pictures of her when naked before sending her a picture of his penis.
In another chat with the 12-year-old, Jackson encouraged her to kiss another child, and there were discussions about meeting up with three girls in total.
Jackson also discussed having sex with the girls.
He later pleaded guilty to multiple charges including attempting to engage in sexual communication with children and attempting to incite penetrative and non-penetrative sexual activity with a child.
After being arrested Jackson said his conversations were “just chat”.
In mitigation, the court heard that Jackson had demonstrated genuine remorse but that he denied a sexual interest in children, which might be something he found it difficult to confront.
He was said to be friendless and without a partner and had turned to a charity for support.
He had no previous convictions.
Sentencing Jackson, Mr Recorder James Baird: “These in my judgement are serious offences and only a sentence of immediate custody can be justified.
“I bear in mind that your remorse is genuine.
I don’t accept the submission that the court can be confident you can change your ways despite the fact that there has been no further offending since your arrest.
“When you spoke to the probation officer, you were insisting you had no interest whatsoever in children.
These offences fly in the face of that.” Jackson was made subject to a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order, and will have to register as a sex offender.
