A dad-of-two’s sexualised conversations with three “12-year-old girls” came to light because he was actually chatting to an under-cover police officer.
A judge told plumber Philip White today (Tue), “On each occasion you were getting – very clearly from the comments you made – some sort of sexual pleasure from talking dirty to who you thought was a 12-year-old girl.”
Judge David Swinnerton said that White made it very clear that “thinking of one of them in school uniform and knickers was something you found sexually interesting.”
As well as on-line communication with the bogus schoolgirls, 53-year-old White also sent one of them a picture of his erect penis and asked another of them for a picture of her vagina.
White, of Widdale Close, Great Sankey, Warrington, pleaded guilty to three offences of attempted sexual communication with a child between November 28 last year and February 2 this year.
Judge Swinnerton pointed out that the defendant’s adult daughter had sent in a reference. “I don’t know how you would have felt as her father if when she was 12 a middle aged man communicated with her. You might want to step outside and think about that.
He said that although there wasn’t a real child involved the courts take such offences seriously to protect children “from people like you.”
The judge added that under-cover officers purport to be children “in order to catch people like you who are plaguing the internet talking to children for sexual purposes.”
Liverpool Crown Court heard White, who has no previous convictions, has voluntarily since undertaken courses to give him insight into his behaviour.
“You now have some insight and considerable regret and remorse,” said Judge Swinnerton, who sentenced him to 12 months imprisonment suspended for 18 months.
He also imposed a 12 month mental health treatment requirement and a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for ten years. He ordered him to carry out 30 days rehabilitation activities and sign on the Sex Offenders Register for ten years.
Keira Shaw, defending, said that White, who has two grown up children, has lost his good character and has taken steps to address his offending behaviour.
“He is a hard working contributing member of the community and is a plumber and heating engineer.”
She said that his family and employer know about the offences and are supportive. He does not have a phone capable of accessing the internet, she added.
