Stephen Verrill, a deviant Bridlington Paedophile predator who sought to groom an individual he believed to be a teenage boy online for the purpose of meeting and sexually assaulting, has been sentenced to three years in prison, placed on the sex offenders registry eternally, issued a sexual harm prevention order, and had his laptop destroyed.
Stephen Verrill, 45, of Quay Road, Bridlington, pleaded guilty to attempting to meet a boy under 16 after grooming, trying to provoke a boy under 16 to participate in a sexual act, and attempting to engage in sexual correspondence with a minor.
Stephen Verrill appeared at Hull Crown Court on Friday, 13 September, and was sentenced the same day after entering a guilty plea.
In May this year, Stephen Verrill had been talking online, sending sexually explicit messages and pictures to who he believed to be a 14-year-old teenage boy, but was a decoy account.
After a week, Stephen Verrill arranged to meet the teenager at a train station to then go on to engage in sexual activity. When Verrill arrived at the train station on Sunday, 12 May this year, officers arrested him.
Detective Constable Bethany Barker, leading the investigation, said: “It is clear that Stephen Verrill is a perverted predator who targeted who he thought to be a vulnerable member of our community for his own sadistic and sexual gratification.
“When questioned, Stephen Verrill denied his intentions, stating if a child had emerged from the train, he would have bought them a return ticket home and did not have a sexual interest in children.
“Thankfully, no child was harmed as Verrill was talking to a decoy social media account, and I am reassured now knowing that he is off our streets, unable to target any children.
“We take reports of sexual offences exceptionally seriously, and we will continue to do everything we can to bring offenders before the courts.
“I would encourage anyone who is a victim of a sexual offence to please talk to us.
“When you are ready, we will be here. We will listen to you, and take you seriously.”
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