ROBERT BEEDLE FROM DUNMOW ESCAPES JAIL AFTER SEXUAL MESSAGES TO 'CHILD' IN CHELMSFORD
| Red Rose Database
Dunmow Child Sexual Abuser
In a case that has drawn significant attention in Dunmow and the surrounding areas, Robert John Beedle, aged 40, of The Broadway in Dunmow, was spared immediate imprisonment after admitting to sending explicit messages to an individual he believed to be a minor. The incident was heard at Chelmsford Crown Court on a recent Tuesday, where the court sentenced Beedle to six months in prison, suspended for two years, highlighting the seriousness of his actions despite the leniency of the sentence.
The court proceedings revealed that between September 1, 2017, and April 19, 2018, Beedle engaged in a series of messaging exchanges with someone he thought was a 13-year-old girl. However, the individual was actually an adult member of the 'paedophile hunter' group called Defending the Innocent, who was posing as a young girl to catch potential offenders. This group’s operation aimed to identify and expose individuals attempting to engage in illegal activities involving minors.
Samantha Lowther, representing the prosecution, detailed that the conversations took place over WhatsApp. During these exchanges, the individual claimed to be 13 years old, while Beedle responded as if he were 17. Lowther explained that Beedle was attempting to discuss sensitive topics, including what boys and girls do, and even asked if the girl would like to participate in such activities. On one occasion, Beedle went as far as suggesting he would book a hotel room for the two of them, indicating a desire to meet in person.
The situation escalated on April 19, when Beedle was confronted by five members of the 'Defending the Innocent' group. This confrontation led to his immediate arrest. During police interviews, Beedle claimed that he never intended to meet the girl in real life. He explained that he works shift hours and that his communication with the individual occurred during his night shifts, implying that his messages were part of a fantasy rather than a plan to meet.
Emma Davenport, defending Beedle, described him as being
The court proceedings revealed that between September 1, 2017, and April 19, 2018, Beedle engaged in a series of messaging exchanges with someone he thought was a 13-year-old girl. However, the individual was actually an adult member of the 'paedophile hunter' group called Defending the Innocent, who was posing as a young girl to catch potential offenders. This group’s operation aimed to identify and expose individuals attempting to engage in illegal activities involving minors.
Samantha Lowther, representing the prosecution, detailed that the conversations took place over WhatsApp. During these exchanges, the individual claimed to be 13 years old, while Beedle responded as if he were 17. Lowther explained that Beedle was attempting to discuss sensitive topics, including what boys and girls do, and even asked if the girl would like to participate in such activities. On one occasion, Beedle went as far as suggesting he would book a hotel room for the two of them, indicating a desire to meet in person.
The situation escalated on April 19, when Beedle was confronted by five members of the 'Defending the Innocent' group. This confrontation led to his immediate arrest. During police interviews, Beedle claimed that he never intended to meet the girl in real life. He explained that he works shift hours and that his communication with the individual occurred during his night shifts, implying that his messages were part of a fantasy rather than a plan to meet.
Emma Davenport, defending Beedle, described him as being