Man searching for child abuse caught in online sting

A man who tried to abuse two young children with a woman online was actually talking to an undercover police officer, a court heard.

Adrian Parker of Cameron Close, Stratton St Margaret, pleaded guilty to two counts of organising/facilitating the commission of a child sexual offense at Swindon Crown Court.

Parker, who was believed to be planning to carry out sexual activity with a child aged six years and four months, was described as posing a “significant risk to children”.

He was remanded in prison and is scheduled to be sentenced on December 4.

‘Significant risk to children’

Parker went to great lengths to buy a Barbie toy car as a gift for the six-year-old, who officers located when he was arrested.

Investigator Beccy Scott, from the Internet Child Exploitation Team (CIET), said she welcomed Parker’s guilty plea as he “poses a significant risk to children”.

“I have no doubt that Parker had every intention of committing these depraved crimes against vulnerable children,” she said.

“Here is a man with a clear sexual preoccupation with pre-pubescent children who purposefully used the Internet to seek out children or adults with access to children.”

“If you are concerned about your own Internet use or inappropriate thoughts or behavior towards children, please seek help from support agencies like the Lucy Faithful Foundation before you become our next knock on the door.”

Det Supt Becky Tadd, from the South West Regional Organized Crime Unit (SWROCU), said: “We are grateful to our colleagues at Wiltshire Police for progressing the investigation into Parker’s nefarious activities.

“This was an excellent joint operation against a highly dangerous sexual predator.”

Wiltshire Police encouraged those who think an individual may be exploiting children, or think they know someone who has been a victim, to call 101 or visit the “how to report possible child abuse” page.

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