CHRISTOPHER HARE FROM SUTTON CAUGHT TRYING TO MEET TEEN GIRL IN STAINES

In June 2019, Christopher Hare, a man residing in Sutton, made a deliberate journey of approximately 20 miles to the town of Staines with the clear intent of meeting a teenage girl he had been communicating with online. Hare's plan was to engage in inappropriate and illegal activities with the minor, but his intentions were thwarted when he arrived at the designated meeting point.

Instead of meeting the girl, Hare was met by officers from the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit (SEROCU). The officers promptly arrested him on the spot, bringing his attempt to an abrupt halt. An extensive investigation into Hare’s activities revealed that he possessed multiple electronic devices containing images of child abuse. These devices were seized during his arrest and subsequently examined by authorities.

Following the investigation, Hare, aged 36, faced legal proceedings at Kingston Crown Court. On Wednesday, June 26, he was sentenced to a 16-month prison term, which was suspended for two years. Additionally, the court imposed a 10-year sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) to restrict his future conduct. Hare was also ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid community service, pay costs amounting to £650, and contribute to a victim surcharge. As part of his sentence, he will be registered on the sex offenders’ register for a decade.

Hare’s arrest had taken place earlier, in June 2018, when he was detained at his residence on Wordsworth Road in Sutton. He subsequently pleaded guilty at Staines Magistrates’ Court on May 29 to multiple charges, including arranging to commit a child sex offence, three counts of making indecent photographs of a child (covering categories A, B, and C), and possessing a prohibited image of a child. His guilty plea marked a significant step in addressing the serious crimes he committed involving the exploitation of minors and the possession of illegal images.