TEJAS PARIKH FROM WELWYN CAUGHT TRYING TO MEET 15-YEAR-OLD BOY AT HARLOW MCDONALD'S

In a disturbing case that has shocked the local community, Tejas Parikh, a 37-year-old man from Welwyn, was found guilty of attempting to engage in sexual activity with a minor after a series of covert online interactions. The incident unfolded when Parikh, who has no prior criminal record, believed he was communicating with a 15-year-old boy through a fake profile on the popular gay dating app Grindr.

It was revealed during court proceedings that a member of a paedophile hunter group had posed as the underage boy on Grindr, creating a profile under the name ‘IndianTop’. This profile was later confirmed to be controlled by Parikh while he was in custody. Over the course of several conversations, which extended to WhatsApp after Parikh was given the fake boy’s phone number, the defendant engaged in sexually explicit exchanges.

The court heard that the fake profile claimed to be still attending school and was only 15 years old. Parikh responded with comments indicating awareness of the legal boundaries, saying, “Okay, I love young but I have to be careful of the law,” and making jokes about being underage and too young for Grindr. Despite previous attempts to meet up that had failed, Parikh persisted and arranged another meeting.

On October 13, 2017, at approximately 1:40 pm, Parikh sent a message to the fake profile asking how he was doing. The profile responded, “You didn’t turn up last time,” to which Parikh replied, “Yeah, didn’t really know it was you, I’m free today for sure.” The conversation continued with Parikh expressing interest in meeting and asking if the profile was genuine, not part of a paedophile hunting ring. He agreed to meet at a McDonald’s in Harlow.

Police were alerted to the situation and, at 11:09 am on the day of the planned meeting, officers arrested Parikh in his car outside the Harlow McDonald’s. During the investigation, authorities discovered that Parikh had sent images, which he believed were of himself, but in fact depicted an Asian male in his 40s wearing glasses. The police also found items in his vehicle that could potentially be used to facilitate sexual activity.

Prosecutor Cyrus Shroff emphasized that although Parikh had no previous convictions, the nature of the conversation and the evidence found in his possession were serious. The court was told that Parikh had engaged in sexually explicit dialogue and had prepared items in his car to aid in sexual encounters.

During sentencing at Chelmsford Crown Court, Judge Turner addressed Parikh directly, describing the day as “sad and shameful.” The judge highlighted Parikh’s educational achievements, including a bachelor’s degree and an MBE, and noted the significant personal and professional consequences he faced, including the loss of his career and damage to his reputation and family life. The judge remarked that if a 15-year-old had been truly involved, the sentence would be much harsher.

Parikh was visibly distressed as he sat in the dock, sobbing during the proceedings. He was sentenced to a two-year community order, required to complete 140 hours of unpaid work, and ordered to pay costs of £300. Additionally, he was given a five-year sexual harm prevention order and will be required to register as a sex offender for five years. This case underscores the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to combat online grooming and protect vulnerable minors from exploitation.