A VOLUNTARY online organisation who seek out sexual predators online have reacted to the sentencing of a paedophile who was jailed for committing online child sex offences.

Peter Davies was sentenced after pleading guilty to engaging in sexual communications with a child and attempting to cause / incite a child to engage in sexual activity between March 5 – 18 this year.

Preston Crown Court heard the 46-year-old, of NFA, believed he was sexually communicating with a 14-year-old girl, when he was instead talking to an adult decoy from ‘365 Hunters’.

It comes after Cumbria police secured his arrest on March 23 following a successful sting operation conducted by the voluntary group.  

In a 36-minute video shared to over 50,000 followers on Facebook, Davies told 365 Hunters he had been DBS checked having worked in schools fitting catering equipment.

The group also confronted Davies, who was wearing only a dressing gown and slippers outside his then home address in Dalton, about him asking the child for pictures of her in her school uniform.

Before his sentencing, magistrates were told Davies asked the child to engage in sexual activity of a non-penetrative nature and to provide sexual images of herself for his own sexual gratification over a period of two weeks.

Another court hearing was required on April 3 after Davies’ wife found he had children’s bras, underwear and a school uniform in his car.

On that occasion, Cumbria Constabulary lawyer Gemma Rogerson successfully applied for an interim sexual risk order to be put in place before his sentencing after she deemed Davies was at a ‘high risk’ of reoffending.

As a result, His Honour Judge Darren Preston jailed Davies for 28 months on July 4.

He was also made the subject of a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Speaking after the sentencing, a representative from 365 Hunters said: “We’re very happy that Davies has been jailed, but 28 months is such a short time compared to the lifetime sentence children who are abused have to pay.

“We’re glad he’s now off the streets and where he belongs. He is clearly a dangerous individual with an attraction to minors. He was talking to one our decoys and asking horrific things.

“We are all very proud of the work we have done to bring this individual to justice. Without the work of our decoys, we wouldn’t be able to operate so we thank and appreciate them for all of their hard work.”

Temporary Detective Sergeant Stewart Glendinning commented: “Fortunately, there was no actual 14-year-old girl but that does not dilute the seriousness of his offending.

“We are committed to ensuring children are safe from those seeking to commit them harm and we will do all we can to ensure those who commit offences are brought before the courts.”