[A] LORRY driver whose online child sex crimes were exposed during an internet sting has been jailed for three years.
David Duthie struck up “relentless” and graphic sexualised chat room conversations for a month with what he thought was a 12-year-old girl. However, it emerged 47-year-old Duthie had actually been communicating with an adult representing an online vigilante group.
Duthie was confronted about his criminal conduct at his place of work in Aspatria in October – an encounter streamed live on Facebook. Police were handed 450 pages of sexualised chat screenshots amassed by the group.
At Carlisle Crown Court today (THURS), Duthie admitted eight crimes. These were five charges of attempting to cause a child aged under 13 to engage in sexual activity; two counts of attempting to cause a child to watch a sexual act; and attempted sexual communication with a child.
Duthie, of no fixed address, was jailed by Judge James Adkin, who noted: “No real child, fortunately, had to view your relentless sexualised chatter.”
Duthie must sign the sex offenders’ register for life, and follow the strict terms of a sexual harm prevention order.
