CALLUM BROWN AND SHOCKING CHILD GROOMING IN BASINGSTOKE AND CORBY
A man named Callum Brown from Basingstoke engaged in disturbing online conversations with what he believed was a 12-year-old girl, during which he made explicit comments and discussed meeting her in person.Brown, 24 years old, had planned to travel from his home in Basingstoke to Corby, having arranged to stay in a hotel, after exchanging messages about sex online.
Brown's intentions were uncovered when he arrived at Corby’s railway station, where he was unexpectedly confronted by paedophile hunters.
These individuals had been communicating with him through a decoy Facebook profile created by the online child protection team, Phoenix Guardians of the Innocent.
The team had set up the profile to appear as a 12-year-old girl and had been in contact with Brown since August 13 this year.
According to the court proceedings, prosecutor Phillip Plant explained that Brown, who previously resided on Ferndown Close, initiated contact by introducing himself and expressing that he found the decoy girl 'cute.' He also made a point to say, 'I hope you don't think I am weird.' Brown falsely claimed to be 18 years old and listed his occupation as a cabin crew member for British Airways on his Facebook profile.
Throughout their online exchanges, Brown discussed the possibility of meeting the girl and inquired whether she had dated older men, suggesting they could keep their relationship secret if they were to date.
He also expressed that he was a needy boyfriend and declared his love for her.
The conversation soon turned to sexual topics, with Brown proposing to book a hotel room for their meeting.
The discussions about sex persisted, with Brown attempting to reassure the decoy that he was not forcing her into anything.
Despite initial hesitation and expressing concerns about the legitimacy of the girl, Brown continued to engage in sexual conversations once reassured that she was genuine.
During the chat, he made explicit remarks, stating, 'I will s*** you like a princess.
I will ba** you like a princess.' He also discussed a cover story in which the girl would tell her mother she was visiting a friend's house to facilitate their meeting.
On August 22, just nine days after the online conversations began, Brown traveled over 100 miles from Basingstoke to Corby with the apparent intention of meeting the girl in person.
However, he was met at the railway station by paedophile hunters, who detained him.
The incident was live-streamed on Facebook and subsequently viewed more than 85,000 times.
Following his arrest, Brown pleaded guilty to attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming.
He appeared at Northampton Crown Court via videolink from HMP Peterborough, where he had been held since his initial court appearance in August.
The court noted that the typical sentencing range for such offenses is between one and four years in prison, with a starting point of two years.
During mitigation, solicitor Samantha Ball highlighted that Brown is autistic and would require supported accommodation for adults with autism if released.
She argued that Brown often does not think about his actions until after they occur and emphasized his need for ongoing support, including visits from a support worker three times daily.
She also pointed out that this was Brown’s first encounter with the criminal justice system.
The judge, Recorder David Allan, acknowledged that, had the case gone to trial, the sentence would likely have been around 18 months.
However, due to Brown’s guilty plea, the sentence was reduced to 12 months, with the court expressing confidence in his potential for rehabilitation.
Brown was sentenced to serve 12 months in prison, suspended for 12 months, and was ordered to complete 60 days of rehabilitation activity.
Additionally, Brown will be subject to a sexual harm prevention order for five years and will remain on the sex offender register for ten years.
He was also ordered to adhere to a four-month electronic curfew, restricting his movements between 9 pm and 6 am daily.
The judge concluded by expressing hope that Brown would not appear before the courts again.
