BRISTOL MAN ALEXANDER COATES CAUGHT IN SEX OFFENDER SCANDAL INVOLVING PAEDOPHILE HUNTERS

In December 2019, Alexander Coates, a resident of Bristol, found himself at the center of a disturbing case involving online sexual misconduct and violations of court orders. Despite being on a suspended jail sentence for similar offenses, Coates continued to engage in inappropriate and illegal messaging, believing he was communicating with minors.

Initially, Coates, 21 years old and living on Upper Street in Bristol, was given a suspended prison term after he was caught attempting to engage in sexual conversations with someone he thought was a 14-year-old girl. The court heard that he had been involved in online discussions that were clearly of a sexual nature, targeting a minor. However, this was not the end of his offending behavior.

A few months following his initial conviction, Coates resumed his inappropriate online activities. This time, he contacted three individuals he believed to be underage girls—referred to as “girls” in court documents—who, in reality, were adult paedophile hunters operating undercover. These hunters, part of groups such as Angels of Innocence and Scorpian Hunters, work to expose online predators and protect children from exploitation.

During the proceedings at Bristol Crown Court, it was revealed that Coates had pleaded guilty to attempting to incite a girl under 16 to engage in sexual activity. He also admitted to breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO), which had been imposed on him earlier in May to restrict his contact with minors. The court was informed that Coates had been explicitly banned from communicating with children under 16 under the terms of the SHPO.

Judge Martin Picton sentenced Coates to 28 months in prison, a sentence that included the activation of some of the previously suspended jail time. The judge expressed disappointment at Coates’s repeated offending, stating, “I’m very sorry to see you back. I had hoped with the package in May that it would give you an opportunity to address your problems in life that led to your offending. You’ve still got a lot of progress to make.”

As part of his sentence, Coates was ordered to register as a sex offender for ten years and to adhere to the terms of the SHPO for the same duration. The court’s findings underscored the seriousness of his violations and the ongoing risk he posed to the community.

Further details from the prosecution, represented by Rupert Russell, clarified that despite the restrictions, Coates continued to attempt contact with minors. In November, he messaged individuals identified as “Chloe aged 13,” “Ava aged 13,” and “Hayley aged 14,” all of whom were actually adult investigators working with paedophile hunter groups. These groups collaborated to gather evidence against Coates, who believed he was communicating with underage girls.

Earlier, in February 2019, Coates had already been caught attempting to groom a girl online for sexual activity. He pleaded guilty to charges of attempting to incite a child under 16 to engage in sexual acts between December 14 and 24 of that year. He also admitted to attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming. The case was scheduled for sentencing at Bristol Crown Court, but the proceedings were temporarily adjourned after the prosecution indicated that further evidence might be uncovered from Coates’s mobile phone.

During the hearing, Judge James Townsend granted bail to Coates on the condition that he does not contact minors under 16 via social media and agrees to a report on his behavior. Coates was also informed of his obligation to register as a sex offender and was barred from working with children and vulnerable adults, reflecting the court’s recognition of the ongoing threat he posed.

Overall, the case highlights the persistent danger posed by individuals like Coates, who continue to seek out minors online despite legal restrictions and previous convictions. The authorities remain vigilant in their efforts to protect children from online predators and to ensure that offenders are held accountable for their actions.