CHRISTOPHER OATWAY STOCKPORT LGBT ACTIVIST CAUGHT IN PLOT WITH TEEN IN MANCHESTER TESCO
In a disturbing series of events that have shocked the local communities, Christopher Oatway, a well-known LGBT activist and community radio DJ from Stockport, became embroiled in a criminal investigation involving attempts to engage with minors through online platforms.The incidents, which unfolded over the course of a year, highlight the serious concerns surrounding online safety and the exploitation of vulnerable individuals.
It all began in July of the previous year when Oatway, aged 26, used the Grindr dating application to communicate with someone he believed to be a 15-year-old boy.
The conversation was reportedly aimed at arranging a casual meeting for a simple cuddle and a peck, with the intended rendezvous set to take place inside a Tesco store located in Chorlton, Manchester.
However, upon arriving at the designated location, Oatway quickly realized that the individual he was supposed to meet was not a minor but an adult posing as a teenager.
The situation took a threatening turn when the person he met demanded money from Oatway, threatening to report him to the police if he did not comply.
Under duress, Oatway handed over £50 to the individual, an act that further implicated him in the ongoing investigation.
The incident was not an isolated event; it was part of a pattern that came to light a year later when Oatway attempted to meet another individual, claiming to be a 15-year-old boy.
This time, the person he was communicating with was actually a member of a paedophile hunter group, which had set up the sting to catch potential offenders.
Details of the second encounter emerged during a court hearing at Manchester Crown Court.
It was revealed that Oatway, who has been actively involved in organizing LGBT pride events across Stockport, Trafford, and Rochdale, had been communicating with someone under the alias 'Cody' on Grindr.
The two had agreed to meet in Manchester city centre, where Oatway was met by an individual who was part of the sting operation.
Authorities subsequently seized items from his home, including his mobile phone, which contained evidence of the conversations from the previous year and details of the planned Tesco meeting.
Oatway, who has no prior criminal record, appeared in court to face charges related to the earlier incident in Chorlton.
The Crown Prosecution Service chose not to pursue charges related to the Manchester city centre meeting, as the evidence was deemed insufficient.
Nonetheless, Oatway admitted to attempting to engage in sexual communication with a minor and was sentenced to a two-year community order.
This order includes participation in a sex offender treatment program, and he is required to sign the sex offender register for five years.
During the sentencing, Judge Richard Mansell QC addressed Oatway directly, stating, “You have an issue here that needs addressing.” The judge also referenced a pre-sentence report indicating that Oatway was in denial about having a sexual attraction to children.
The judge firmly stated, “That can’t be so,” emphasizing that Oatway had demonstrated an attraction to the idea of meeting a 15-year-old.
The case underscores the importance of vigilance and the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to combat online exploitation and protect minors from predatory behavior.
