WIGSTON PAEDOPHILE ROBERT HARDING CAUGHT IN UNDERCOVER OPERATION

In a disturbing case that highlights the dangers lurking online, Robert Harding, a 61-year-old resident of Wigston, was caught in a sting operation conducted by undercover police officers. The incident unfolded when Harding initiated contact with what he believed was a 14-year-old girl, who was actually an officer posing as a minor on a teen chat website.

Harding made contact with the undercover officer, establishing that she was 14 and alone at home. During their conversation, Harding falsely claimed to be 50 years old. The interaction took a disturbing turn when Harding, under the mistaken belief that a webcam was recording him, engaged in a lewd act. This act was part of his attempt to exploit what he thought was a young girl.

The conversation between Harding and the undercover officer also included inappropriate suggestions, with Harding proposing that she film herself performing sexual acts for him to watch. He explicitly expressed his desire to have sex with her, even warning that it might be painful at first. Prosecutor Alan Murphy highlighted the seriousness of Harding’s intentions, stating, "The defendant said it was okay if she was 14. He said he’d like to meet her." The illicit exchange occurred at approximately 4:10 pm on February 10 of the previous year.

Following his arrest, police searched Harding’s former residence in Wigston. During the search, they discovered that Harding had viewed images of child abuse on his computer. Harding claimed that these images had been sent to him by others, and this assertion was supported by the fact that his computer showed no evidence of internet searches for indecent images of children. However, further investigation revealed that Harding had been communicating with young people online and making arrangements to meet them, indicating a pattern of predatory behavior.

Harding, who resides on Blaby Road in Wigston, faced multiple charges. He pleaded guilty to attempting to cause a child to watch a sex act via webcam and attempting to induce a child to engage in sexual activity. Additionally, he admitted possessing indecent images of children, including infants, with the images dating from November 2009 to January of the previous year. The images were categorized into various levels of severity, totaling 1,257 images: 614 at level one, 18 at level two, 279 at level three, 305 at level four, and 41 at the most serious level five. The court was informed that some images were duplicates, which slightly mitigated the severity.

During sentencing, Judge Philip Head described Harding’s behavior as “verbally grooming” someone he believed to be a 14-year-old, with increasingly sexualized comments. The judge acknowledged Harding’s apparent remorse, stating, “I accept you’re determined not to behave like that again, although I’m sure to a large extent that’s a product of being caught.” The judge also condemned the nature of the images Harding possessed, emphasizing the horrific reality of children being abused and the fact that Harding derived sexual gratification from viewing such material.

Harding’s defense lawyer, Claire Robinson, pointed out that Harding’s offending behavior began in his late 50s and that he had since sought professional help, voluntarily paying for counseling. Despite this, the court imposed a substantial sentence, with Harding being jailed for 17 months and two weeks. Furthermore, Harding was subjected to a 10-year sexual offences prevention order, which restricts his future use of computers and online activity, with authorities monitoring his compliance. The order also bans him from having unsupervised contact with girls under 16. Additionally, Harding is required to register as a sex offender, ensuring ongoing oversight of his activities and preventing further harm to vulnerable individuals.