A pervert who believed he was sending sexual chats to an underage girl on WhatsApp was actually speaking to undercover police.
Iain Forrester began chatting to who he thought was a 13-year-old girl on an app called SayHi and soon started sending inappropriate sexual messages on WhatsApp, urged her to keep their conversations a "secret". But what the 67-year-old didn't know was that he was actually conversing with undercover police from Wales.
Forrester, of New Barns Way, Warkworth, Northumberland, appeared at Newcastle Crown Court on Wednesday to be sentenced for attempting to engage in sexual communications with a child between December 1 and 23, 2020. He pleaded guilty to the charge at a previous hearing.
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Michael Bunch, prosecuting, said Forrester's offending came to light following an operation by the organised crime unit in South Wales. Police had set up a profile of a 13-year-old girl and Forrester struck up a conversation with the decoy on the SayHi app. Mr Bunch said: "The defendant made the first contact and the two began exchanging messages. The defendant was using a false name of Joe and said he was Scottish after he was told she was in Cardiff. She said she was 13 and the conversation continued."
Forrester then began talking about "meeting up" where they could "hold hands and kiss at a romantic spot". Mr Bunch said: "He asked about going for a drive in his Range Rover and asked about her clothing." The conversation then moved over to WhatsApp, where Forrester began talking about "kissing and cuddling" her, as well as wanting to provide alcohol and telling her to "keep it a secret".
Despite being almost 70-years-old, Forrester said he wanted to be the girl's boyfriend before the conversations turned more explicitly sexual. He also said: "I can't wait to make love to you", the court was told. The conversations stopped on December 22, when Forrester sent the decoy an email. Police were then able to trace him through his email address and he was arrested. In interview, he admitted his offending but claimed he did not believe the girl was 13. He had no previous convictions.
Jane Foley, defending, said Forrester's motivation was his "desire for sexual gratification" and that he had now lost his good character. She said: "He has been married for 40 years and it may well be that he loses that too, only time will tell if the marriage can avoid the fall out. He is a man who is very successful and has a good job. The business prospects also hang in the balance and he is certain the business will not survive or be heavily impacted." She added Forrester has "genuine remorse".
Recorder Ian Mullarkey handed Forrester a six month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months and ordered him to complete 30 rehabilitation days and 100 hours unpaid work. A five year sexual harm prevention order was also made and Forrester will be on the sex offender's register for seven years.
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