A 37-year-old Northgate Paedophile, Robert Charles Payne, was arrested after attempting to meet a 13-year-old girl for sex.
Robert Payne of Northgate, Towcester, arrived at Northampton train station shortly after 2 p.m. on November 18, 2023, to meet a 13-year-old girl he claimed had travelled from Glasgow to see him.
Robert Payne had added the girl on Facebook a month before the planned meeting. After a short period, their chat switched to WhatsApp, with Payne sending her sexual messages and frequently asking her to send him dirty photographs of herself.
They eventually agreed to meet at the train station for sexual purposes, with Robert Payne providing the girl a photo of his face to help her recognise him.
When he arrived, he discovered that the 13-year-old girl he believed he was dealing with was actually an online child abuse advocacy group.
Police were contacted, and Robert Payne, who was found in possession of condoms, was arrested at the train station. He was then charged with attempted sexual communication with a child, inciting a girl aged 13-15 to participate in sexual behaviour, and attempting to meet a female under 16 years old after grooming.
On June 12, after pleading guilty to the offences at Northampton Crown Court, he was sentenced to two years and eleven months in jail.
Lead investigator, Detective Constable Sophie Stevens of the Online Child Abuse Investigation Unit (OCAIU), stated: “Although the ‘child’ in this case was not real, that does not detract from the very sinister fact that Robert Payne arrived at Northampton train station that day with the intent to sexually abuse a 13-year-old girl.
“I’m relieved he’s been sent to prison because it means our children in Northamptonshire are a little safer.
“We at Northamptonshire Police are extremely dedicated about protecting the county’s youngsters. We work both proactively and reactively, and we will continue to pursue justice for those like Robert Payne.”
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