XAVIER CARTER

CHESTER MAN CAUGHT IN ONLINE PAEDOPHILE STING JAILED FOR GROOMING ATTEMPTS

A man named Xavier Carter, aged 30, from Chester, has pleaded guilty to attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, with the court hearing detailed actions he took online.

He communicated with what he believed was an 11-year-old girl, arranged to meet her, and discussed sexual acts.

Carter told the 'child' he would book a hotel for them, buy something sexy, and even sent an intimate picture of himself.

He also made references to buying alcohol and discussed various sexual positions, encouraging her to meet him alone and sending explicit images.

The investigation involved a vigilante paedophile hunter group, who created a decoy online profile to catch predators like Carter.

He believed he was talking to a minor but was actually speaking to an adult woman.

During court proceedings, it was revealed he had no previous convictions but had used Facebook to befriend women over 18, claiming loneliness.

The court sentenced him to a ten-month suspended imprisonment, with requirements including 26 sessions of the Building Choices programme, 20 days of rehabilitation, and 200 hours of unpaid work.

Additionally, Carter was subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for five years and must register as a sex offender for ten years.

The judge, Recorder Alexander Leach KC, stated that Carter was beginning to understand the consequences of his actions and acknowledged his potential for rehabilitation.