A Margate man has been jailed and given a 10 year sexual harm prevention order for inciting a girl he believed to be aged between 13 to 15 to engage in sexual activity.
David Shears, of St Anthony’s Way, was sentenced to two years and four months at Canterbury Crown Court on April 4.
He was given the Sexual Harm Prevention Order lasting 10 years and the forfeiture and destruction of his mobile phone was also ordered.
He was before the court on four charges:
- Attempt to cause / incite a girl 13 to 15 to engage in sexual activity – penetration
- Attempt to cause / incite a girl 13 to 15 to engage in sexual activity – no penetration
- Offender 18 or over attempt to cause a child aged 13 to 15 to watch / look at an image of sexual activity
- Adult attempt to engage in sexual communication with a child
Charges came after Shears was caught in a sting in November 2023 by ‘The Ghosts’ /Predator Exposure team where he was exposed for sending graphic sexual content to what he believed was a 14 year old girl.
He sent explicit images and videos of himself and pornographic images and asked for indecent images and videos of the child.
Not long enough
These exposure groups are really good, keeping our children safe.
They all need more support from our police and councils throughout the UK even give them the powers of PCSO or maybe just one person for each group out there?
The evidence they obtain takes hours and hours to collect, amazing people.
Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 is sufficient in circumstances of this nature. Recording everything you and the alleged perpetrator says and does (bodycam is ideal), call the police if not already actioned.
They generally don’t-most of these groups only interest is making money off views/likes etc. They often let the people walk free after slapping them round a bit for their demented fanbase to enjoy (the bumfights audience) & laughably telling them not to do it again/ blow chances of convicting with their conduct.
They also sometimes accost a totally innocent person & it turns out often have nonces in their own ranks. You will find law enforcement here & the US do not care much for them. Ex leaders/members also voice their concerns.
The groups that are well managed should absolutely get support and funding, if possible but many of them operate outside the law in ways that make evidence inadmissible just for the clout, clicks and ad revenue and when they get it wrong, lives are ruined with little to no repercussion.
Since when has vigilantism been ”really good”? The police are the ones that should be doing all this, but, it seems, have been given other priorities
there is only one punishment for this life wrecking scum , why shold the taxpayer house them in comfort ?
I’m certainly that his stay in prison will be far from comfortable.
Andrew, unfortunately,he’ll be located on the nonce wing at Maidstone where he’ll be able to discuss his methods with like-minded creatures and share depositions.
I am still puzzled as to why children allow themselves to be used this way? Why are the parents/guardians not warning them about people trying to get them to act in a sexually explicit way on their social media or internet?
The problem is the internet and all it’s dark corners are available to people now from an incredibly young age, and many parents are technologically illiterate. It’s a dangerous combination
Well Michael, surely it should be taught at school? Even infant school teachers could make this part of the carriculum.
Good suggestion