ALEXANDER KENNEDY FROM GUILDFORD CAUGHT IN CHILD SEX OFFENDER SCANDAL

In April 2014, a disturbing case emerged involving Alexander Kennedy, a 40-year-old former IT specialist from Guildford, who was found guilty of engaging in predatory online behavior targeting underage girls. Kennedy, who previously earned a substantial salary of £100,000 annually, used social media platforms and online chat services to seek out and communicate with young girls, some as young as 10 years old.

His online activities began with innocent conversations about hobbies such as fashion, shopping, and diving. However, over time, these interactions took a darker turn as Kennedy’s messages became increasingly sexualized. He initially asked a girl, who called herself Lucy, for a goodnight kiss and hinted at pushing his luck with suggestive comments. As their conversations progressed, Kennedy expressed a desire to cuddle and kiss her, and in November 2012, he explicitly asked for a 'sexy photo' and made disturbing comments about wanting to kiss her entire body and what she was like underneath her clothes.

Kennedy’s predatory behavior culminated in a webcam incident in January of the following year, where he exposed himself to Lucy during a video chat. It was during this encounter that he revealed his intentions to meet her in person. Unbeknownst to him, Lucy was an undercover police officer operating online to catch predators. The police investigation uncovered that Kennedy had also chatted with other young girls, some claiming to be older than they actually were. He admitted to chatting with a girl who claimed to be 18 but was actually only 12.

Following his arrest in April 2013, Kennedy confessed to engaging in conversations with multiple underage girls over the internet. Prosecutors revealed that his marriage had already ended prior to these offenses, and he had lost his lucrative IT job. Kennedy explained that he sought out hundreds of online friends to combat feelings of loneliness, but he has since taken steps to address his offending behavior through a specialized course.

During his court appearance at the Old Bailey last month, Kennedy faced serious charges, including attempting to cause a child to watch a sexual act and attempting to engage in sexual activity with a minor. Prosecutor Eileen Sproson detailed how Kennedy’s interactions with the undercover officer, who was posing as a 13-year-old girl, became increasingly explicit over time. The court heard that Kennedy’s language was quite extreme, and his actions demonstrated a clear pattern of predatory behavior.

Judge Rebecca Poulet QC sentenced Kennedy to eight months in prison, suspended for two years, recognizing that he was unlikely to re-offend. Additionally, Kennedy was ordered to attend a sex offenders’ treatment program and pay prosecution costs amounting to £1,100. One of the charges related to attempting to arrange child exploitation was dropped after Kennedy entered guilty pleas, but the court emphasized the severity of his actions and the danger posed to minors online.