SIMON THARBY FROM GRIMSBY CAUGHT IN SEXUAL OFFENCES NEAR MILTON KEYNES AND LOCAL CHILDREN
In February 2013, a disturbing incident involving Simon Tharby, a 29-year-old man from Grimsby, came to light through reports from vigilant neighbors.The neighbors overheard Tharby engaging in a conversation with a teenage girl about sexual matters, which prompted them to alert the police authorities.
The incident took place at Tharby’s residence on Willingham Street in Grimsby, where he was reportedly speaking on his mobile phone.
During the call, a female neighbor, who was outside smoking with another woman, overheard Tharby discussing sexual activity with a 14-year-old girl residing in Milton Keynes.
The conversation included questions about when the girl would turn 16, indicating a disturbing interest in her age and potential sexual activity.
Following the neighbors' report, law enforcement officials conducted a thorough analysis of Tharby’s mobile phones.
It was revealed that Tharby had been subject to an interim sexual offences prevention order since September 15, which explicitly prohibited him from residing in any location where children were present.
Despite this restriction, Tharby had moved to another address in Grimsby where three children were living, raising serious concerns about his compliance with the order.
During the court proceedings, the prosecution, led by Jeremy Evans, outlined the details of Tharby’s actions.
Tharby admitted to inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and breaching the terms of his interim order.
His defense attorney, Andrew Bailey, argued that much of Tharby’s contact with the girl did not constitute outright incitement.
Bailey emphasized that Tharby and the girl only interacted via web cameras and had not met in person, expressing that Tharby showed remorse and was ashamed of his behavior.
Tharby had been in custody since September 15, and the court sentenced him to a year in prison.
Additionally, he was subjected to a five-year sexual offences prevention order and was required to register as a sex offender for the next ten years.
Earlier, in July 2012, Tharby had faced another serious allegation involving a 13-year-old girl.
He had asked her over the internet if she would have sex with him, a case that resulted in him avoiding jail time.
Tharby, then 29 and residing on Willingham Street in Grimsby, pleaded guilty to inciting the girl to engage in sexual activity in March of that year.
The court, presided over by Judge Simon Jack at Grimsby Crown Court, sentenced him to a three-year community order, considering the offense to be on the lower end of the scale.
Prosecutor Phillip Evans detailed that Tharby had used the pseudonym 'Simon Smith' to communicate with the girl via MSN Messenger.
Their conversations were sexually explicit, leading the girl to report the exchanges to her mother.
The mother advised her to copy and save the conversations for evidence.
During their exchanges, Tharby made disturbing comments, including asking if the girl would let him get her pregnant, despite her being only nine years old.
He also claimed that his girlfriend wanted a baby but was too young, and asked if she would have sex with him.
On March 20, Tharby further revealed that he had been dumped by his eight-year-old girlfriend for sleeping with her five-year-old sister.
The girl found this behavior suspicious, and the incident was reported to police.
Humberside Police subsequently located Tharby, who explained his conduct by expressing feelings of self-dislike.
His defense attorney argued that while Tharby’s communications were concerning, they did not constitute direct contact and could be addressed through treatment rather than imprisonment.
As part of his sentence, Tharby was ordered to complete a three-year supervision period, participate in a sex offenders work group program, and sign the sex offenders register for ten years.
