DANUT STAFIE FROM SOUTHAMPTON SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEX OFFENCES INVOLVING GAY DATING APP AND POLICE TRAP
In December 2022, a disturbing case emerged involving a man from Southampton who was caught attempting to engage in sexual activities with a minor he believed to be 14 years old.The individual, identified as Danut Stafie, aged 35 and originally from Romania, traveled to meet what he thought was a young boy for the purpose of engaging in anal sex.
The incident unfolded after Stafie had been communicating with the minor through the popular gay dating application, Grindr.
According to court proceedings, prosecutor James Kellam detailed how Stafie, residing on Portsmouth Road in Southampton, had made explicit arrangements to meet the boy.
The plan included not only oral sex but also anal intercourse.
Despite knowing the age of the minor, Stafie continued his conversations, which later shifted to WhatsApp, further indicating his intent to pursue the meeting.
Unbeknownst to Stafie, the individual he was communicating with was actually an undercover officer from the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit.
The police had set up a sting operation to catch individuals attempting to exploit minors online.
When Stafie arrived at the designated meeting point in Woolston, he was immediately detained by authorities.
He was found carrying condoms, which he intended to use during the encounter.
Further investigation of his mobile phone revealed the presence of two indecent images of children.
One of these images was classified as a Category A image, indicating the most severe level of child exploitation material.
These findings contributed to the charges brought against him.
Stafie faced multiple serious charges, including arranging or facilitating a child sex offence and making indecent photographs of children.
The court heard that the fact the victim was fictitious did not diminish the severity of the offence, emphasizing the criminal intent behind his actions.
Judge Gary Burrell KC addressed the court, highlighting the significant age disparity and the deliberate targeting of a vulnerable minor.
He described the case as extremely serious, noting that there was no possibility of a non-custodial sentence.
The judge stated, “There was specific targeting of a vulnerable child.
This is a very serious offence.
It is the intention that counts.
And his intention was to put his penis up a young boy’s anus.” As a result, Stafie was sentenced to three years in prison.
Additionally, he was placed under an indefinite sexual harm prevention order and ordered to register as a sex offender, reflecting the gravity of his crimes and the ongoing risk he poses to the community.
