In 2026, the Offender Database reported that Richard Jackson, then 43, of North Street, Keighley, West Yorkshire, was sentenced to 2.5 years in prison. On 2 January 2026, Jackson appeared at Bradford Crown Court for sentencing after being caught in an undercover sting operation targeting online predators.
The investigation established that between March and May 2024, Jackson engaged in sexually explicit online communications with three “decoy” children. The prosecution reported that Jackson believed he was messaging girls aged 10, 12, and 13, when in reality, he was communicating with members of an online paedophile hunter group. During these chats, Jackson discussed having naked baths with the children and offered to “teach” the 13-year-old about sex. He also suggested taking the 10-year-old to McDonald’s to play games such as “Truth or Dare.”
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
Recorder James Baird emphasised that while the conversations with all three “girls” began innocently, they quickly escalated to sexual matters. The court reported that Jackson initially lied about his age, claiming to be 19, before admitting he was 41. Following his arrest by West Yorkshire Police, which occurred after the hunter group confronted him at his home, Jackson dismissed his behaviour to officers as “just chat.” Despite his claims in a pre-sentence report that he had no sexual interest in youngsters, the court found his actions to be deliberate and predatory.
The prosecution emphasised the serious nature of the communication, which included attempts to incite the children into both penetrative and non-penetrative sexual activity. The judge emphasised that a custodial sentence was necessary to address the risk Jackson posed to the community. For his crimes in Keighley, the court determined that Jackson must be subject to long-term monitoring and restrictions to prevent further attempts at child exploitation.
Sentence and Statutory Requirements
For his crimes in West Yorkshire, Richard Jackson was handed:
- Custodial Sentence: Two and a half years in immediate custody.
- SHPO: A 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order was imposed.
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements were activated for life (indefinite).
- Convictions: Attempting to incite a child to engage in penetrative and non-penetrative sexual activity, and attempting to engage in sexual communication with children.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Jackson is managed under the Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) by West Yorkshire Police. His history of targeting multiple children online and his attempts to arrange physical meetings mean his status remains under the highest level of scrutiny by authorities in Keighley.
As a lifetime member of the Sex Offenders Register, Jackson must comply with notification requirements regarding his residence in North Street, Keighley. Authorities state that his 10-year SHPO is a critical tool for the Public Protection Unit to monitor his internet use and ensure he does not access platforms used to target children. Any breach of his registration conditions or his licence terms following his release from prison will result in his immediate return to Bradford Crown Court.
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