In 2022, Ian Potts, the Bournemouth Paedophile, a sex offender who attempted to lure a youngster, was incarcerated.
Ian Potts, 36 years old, directed a series of social media messages at the adolescent following their encounter in August 2020.
He persisted in luring the youngster into sexual acts while being aware that the boy was below the age of consent.
Unbeknownst to Ian Potts, his private discussions with the boy were disclosed to an online activist group, which subsequently assumed control of the communications and began gathering evidence.
Ian Potts was apprehended several days later and asserted to officers that he believed the youngster was over 16 years old when the texts were transmitted.
He asserted that he had not read and inadvertently erased communications indicating the boy’s age.
Ian Potts then entered a guilty plea for attempting to engage in sexual communication with a minor and for two counts of trying to encourage sexual activity with a minor.
On Wednesday, Ian Potts was sentenced to two years and eight months in prison at Nottingham Crown Court.
Ian Potts, residing on Westover Road in Bournemouth, was additionally registered as a sex offender and subjected to an indefinite sexual harm prevention order that would impose restrictions on his actions upon release.
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