A senior police officer hopes the sentence of a man who took condoms and Viagra to a planned meeting with what he thought was a 13-year-old girl sends a clear warning to offenders.
Thomas George Thompson — a 58-year-old married dad — began an online chat with a user who said straight away they were 13.
He confirmed his own age. Thompson’s chat swiftly became sexualised and included a host of lewd suggestions and offers.
The ‘girl’ was in fact a police sting.
Detective Sergeant Tracey Nimmo, Cyber and Digital Crime Unit, said: “I hope that this sentence gives a clear warning to other offenders that we are committed to protecting children from sexual abuse and online child sexual exploitation. Offenders will be brought before the courts.
“We understand that cases such as this may cause our local community concern. I would like to offer reassurance that we are committed to doing everything within our power to protect children and vulnerable people.
“I encourage anyone who has concerns that a child might be a victim of online child sexual exploitation or abuse to contact us. Specialist officers, working together in partnership with support agencies across Cumbria, are here to investigate and bring perpetrators of these horrific crimes before the courts.”
