An Upwell Paedophile Paul White apprehended by internet paedophile hunters impersonating 12 and 13-year-old girls has been sentenced to imprisonment.
Paedophile Paul White, 55, engaged in sexualised correspondence with individuals he believed to be girls aged 12 and 13, who were, in reality, members of a group called Innocent Voices.
Norwich Crown Court was informed that Paul White had been engaging with them after creating fraudulent personas on social media.
Duncan O’Donnell, representing the prosecution, stated that from October 2021 until March of this year, Paul White had participated in “sexualised chat” with the two individuals, enquiring about their relationships and the development of their breasts.
He solicited the transmission of photographs and enquired if they wished to see him, despite never arranging a meeting.
However, Paul White was subsequently approached by an adult decoy who claimed to be an adult lady he encountered in a pub in Upwell on March 13 of this year.
He was then confronted by paedophile hunters who had relayed information to the police.
Paul White possessed an internet-enabled mobile phone, violating a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) imposed following his 2017 conviction for sexual crimes.
Paul White, residing on Dovecote Road in Upwell, near Wisbech, appeared in court on Thursday, June 9, for sentencing after having previously confessed to four offences, including two counts of engaging in sexual communications with an individual he understood to be under the age of 16.
He acknowledged violating a sexual harm prevention order established in 2017 by seeking to contact individuals under the age of 16 and holding a mobile phone without notifying the police.
Imprisoning him for 40 months Judge Katharine Moore described the period of offending as “profoundly troubling.”
Judge Moore characterised Paul White as a “dangerous offender” with a “high risk of inflicting serious sexual harm” to youngsters.
Andrew Oliver, in mitigation, stated that Paul White, who warranted acknowledgement for his plea, experienced the loss of his father, whom he regarded as his best friend, approximately 12 months ago, which profoundly affected him.
He stated that Paul White required assistance to “restructure his cognitive processes”.
Paul White was mandated to register as a sex offender for a duration of 10 years, while the case was postponed until July 7, when a fresh sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) will be issued.
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