THOMAS PHILLIPS CAUGHT BY PAEDOPHILE HUNTERS IN KIDSGROVE
| Red Rose Database
Burslem Child Abuser
Thomas Phillips, a convicted sexual predator, was apprehended by paedophile hunters after he attempted to meet a decoy who was pretending to be a 13-year-old girl for sexual purposes. The 48-year-old was unaware that the individual he was communicating with was not a real child but a decoy. He arranged to meet her at Kidsgrove Railway Station. Members of the groups Children's Voices and Predator Exposure were waiting for him there and carried out a citizen's arrest.
During a search of Phillips' home, police found a bin bag filled with children’s underwear. He has now been classified as a dangerous offender and sentenced to a total of eight years in prison. Prosecutor Thomas Sherrington explained that the predator had interacted with three Facebook profiles of girls aged 13 and 14, creating decoys for these profiles.
Phillips had made sexual remarks, including suggestions of having sex with one girl who was 13 and her eight-year-old sister, and had urged them to send pictures of their underwear. On November 10, he arrived at the train station expecting to meet the girl, but was confronted by members of Children's Voices instead. Following his arrest, police found a mobile phone with messages requesting pictures of young girls in their underwear.
Further investigation revealed a laptop containing 1,327 indecent images classified as Category C. During court proceedings, Phillips denied any wrongdoing. It was also revealed that he has a previous conviction for child sexual assault dating back to 2009.
Judge Michael Maher addressed Phillips' actions, emphasizing the vast evidence against him and his longstanding sexual attraction to children. The judge condemned Phillips for his persistent deviant behavior and criticised the apparent failure of previous sexual harm prevention efforts.
Phillips received an eight-year sentence, consisting of five years imprisonment and a three-year extended license period. He must serve at least two-thirds of his sentence before he is eligible for parole. Additionally, an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) was issued against him, and he is required to register as a sex offender for life. The court also ordered the seizure and forfeiture of the laptop used to store the indecent images.
During a search of Phillips' home, police found a bin bag filled with children’s underwear. He has now been classified as a dangerous offender and sentenced to a total of eight years in prison. Prosecutor Thomas Sherrington explained that the predator had interacted with three Facebook profiles of girls aged 13 and 14, creating decoys for these profiles.
Phillips had made sexual remarks, including suggestions of having sex with one girl who was 13 and her eight-year-old sister, and had urged them to send pictures of their underwear. On November 10, he arrived at the train station expecting to meet the girl, but was confronted by members of Children's Voices instead. Following his arrest, police found a mobile phone with messages requesting pictures of young girls in their underwear.
Further investigation revealed a laptop containing 1,327 indecent images classified as Category C. During court proceedings, Phillips denied any wrongdoing. It was also revealed that he has a previous conviction for child sexual assault dating back to 2009.
Judge Michael Maher addressed Phillips' actions, emphasizing the vast evidence against him and his longstanding sexual attraction to children. The judge condemned Phillips for his persistent deviant behavior and criticised the apparent failure of previous sexual harm prevention efforts.
Phillips received an eight-year sentence, consisting of five years imprisonment and a three-year extended license period. He must serve at least two-thirds of his sentence before he is eligible for parole. Additionally, an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) was issued against him, and he is required to register as a sex offender for life. The court also ordered the seizure and forfeiture of the laptop used to store the indecent images.