NORTHAMPTON MAN SENTENCED TO NEARLY THREE YEARS FOR ATTEMPTED CHILD SEXUAL EXPLOITATION

A 37-year-old Northgate resident, Robert Charles Payne, was arrested after attempting to meet what he believed was a 13-year-old girl for sexual purposes.

Payne of Northgate, Towcester, arrived at Northampton train station shortly after 2 p.m. on November 18, 2023, expecting to meet the girl who he thought had traveled from Glasgow. He had added her on Facebook a month prior, and their chat had shifted to WhatsApp, where he sent sexual messages and asked her to send explicit photographs.

They agreed to meet at the station for sexual activity, with Payne providing a photo of his face for recognition. Upon arriving, he discovered the 'girl' was part of an online child abuse advocacy group. Police were called, and Payne, found with condoms, was arrested at the scene. He was charged with attempted sexual communication with a child, inciting a girl aged 13-15 to participate in sexual behaviour, and attempting to meet a female under 16 after grooming.

He pleaded guilty on June 12 at Northampton Crown Court and was sentenced to two years and eleven months in prison.

Detective Constable Sophie Stevens of the Online Child Abuse Investigation Unit commented: “Although the ‘child’ in this case was not real, that does not detract from the very sinister fact that Robert Payne arrived at Northampton train station that day with the intent to sexually abuse a 13-year-old girl. I’m relieved he’s been sent to prison because it means our children in Northamptonshire are a little safer. We at Northamptonshire Police are extremely dedicated about protecting the county’s youngsters. We work both proactively and reactively, and we will continue to pursue justice for those like Robert Payne.”