Christopher Papworth, aged 48, of Enslin Street, Walker, Newcastle, was sentenced to a three-year community order at Newcastle Crown Court after pleading guilty to attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and attempting to meet a child following grooming.
The court heard that in February 2021, Papworth initiated online contact with a profile operating under the name Susie Brown, created by members of the child protection group UK Justice. The profile clearly listed the user’s age as 14 and stated a date of birth in 2005. Despite this, Papworth sent explicit sexual messages, transmitted photographs depicting a male penis, and made arrangements to meet the supposed child in person.
Members of the UK Justice travelled to Papworth’s residence in Walker to confront him. Finding him not at home, the group provided the gathered message transcripts, chat history, and photographic evidence directly to the police.
Northumbria Police arrested Papworth and conducted a formal interview the following morning. While Papworth initially replied “no comment” to questions, he subsequently admitted that the distinctive trainers visible in the photographs alongside his exposed genitals were the identical pair of shoes he was wearing during the police interview.
Appearing before Newcastle Crown Court, Papworth entered guilty pleas to:
One count of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child
One count of attempting to meet a child following grooming
Judge Christopher Prince sentenced Papworth to a three-year community order comprising 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days and 40 sessions of an accredited sex offender treatment programme. The court also made Papworth subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) and ordered him to remain on the sex offenders register for five years.
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