A FAMILY man who struck up lewd sexual conversation online with what he thought was a 13-year-old girl has been sentenced by a judge.
John Gibson, 42, was actually engaged in exchanges with a decoy police officer through a messenger application during December and January.
Carlisle Crown Court heard how Sellafield worker Gibson began sexualised conversation “almost immediately”, stated during the chat he knew it was “wrong”, and also sent graphic images. “It is fair to say that throughout these conversations, ‘her’ age was frequently mentioned,” said prosecutor Charles Brown.
After being arrested at his place of work, Gibson – who had since lost his job – accepted his wrongdoing. He pleaded guilty to charges of attempted sexual communication with a child, attempting to cause a child to look at a sexual activity image, and attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity.
During the hearing, Judge Nicholas Barker was also told of Gibson’s previous good character and the adverse impact on his personal life since the offending had come to light.
Concluding there was a “realistic prospect of rehabilitation”, Judge Barker suspended a 16-month jail term for two years. Gibson, of North Street, Carlisle, must complete a rehabilitation requirement, 180 hours’ unpaid work and a three-month night-time curfew. He must also sign the sex offenders’ register for a decade and abide by the strict terms of a sexual harm prevention order for five years.
“This court is always saddened to see a 42-year-old man of good character, and a family man, appearing in front of it for the very first time,” said Judge Barker. “But you are not unusual in your circumstances as a middle-aged man going on to (the app) to seek out young females, to engage with them sexually and to groom them. This was undoubtedly what you were doing on this occasion.”
He added: “At no time, as with the (decoy) officer’s training, does she seek to act as an agent provocateur. You put yourself in this position. You were active, you were leading and you were undertaking the grooming activity.”
