SCOTT DICKINS AND PHILIP PAGE FROM BLETCHLEY AND LUTON ESCAPE JAIL AFTER GROOMING YOUNG BEDFORDSHIRE GIRL ONLINE

In a disturbing case that highlights the dangers of online grooming, two men associated with a wrestling group have narrowly avoided imprisonment after being found guilty of grooming a very young girl from Bedfordshire. The case, heard at Luton Crown Court, revealed the disturbing extent of their online predations and the steps taken by law enforcement to bring them to justice.

Scott Dickins, aged 26 and residing in Claverley Green, Luton, was involved in a series of troubling interactions with the young girl, who was under the age of 13. Court documents detailed that Dickins had arranged to meet the girl on three separate occasions. On one of these occasions, he actually set out with the intent to meet her in person, having groomed her online. The court heard that his actions were driven by a desire to sexually exploit the young girl, and he pleaded guilty to multiple charges related to these offenses.

Meanwhile, Philip Page, aged 28 and living on Brooklands Road in Bletchley, was also implicated in the case. The court was informed that Page had been sending sexually explicit messages to the same girl from Bedfordshire, beginning his online communication in 2014 via Facebook. Over a period of time, he groomed her through these messages, despite knowing her age was under 13. His actions demonstrated a clear pattern of predatory behavior aimed at exploiting a minor.

Law enforcement authorities launched an investigation into the matter in 2015 after reports surfaced that both men had been sending inappropriate and sexually explicit messages to the young girl. The police uncovered that Page had initiated contact with her in 2014, and his messages continued over the following months, grooming her for potential in-person meetings. Dickins, who began messaging the girl in 2015, also built a rapport with her with the explicit goal of meeting up and sexually abusing her.

In court, Dickins admitted to three counts of attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming, as well as one count of traveling with the intent to meet a child for sexual purposes. His sentence was eight months in prison, suspended for two years, reflecting the court’s consideration of his guilty plea and the circumstances of the case. Philip Page pleaded guilty to a single count of inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity. His sentence was 12 months, also suspended for two years, indicating a leniency in sentencing given the guilty plea and the nature of his actions.

Both men’s cases serve as stark reminders of the ongoing threat posed by online predators and the importance of vigilance in protecting vulnerable minors from exploitation. The court’s decision to suspend their sentences underscores the complexity of such cases, but also highlights the need for continued efforts to combat online grooming and safeguard children from harm.