DAVID HACK AND SHOCKING CHILD GROOMING INCIDENT IN HOLSWORTHY AND PLYMOUTH

David Hack, a 34-year-old man from Churchstow, found himself at the center of a disturbing online grooming case that unfolded in the areas of Holsworthy, Plymouth, and Kingsbridge. The incident began when Hack believed he was arranging to meet a young girl named Felicity, with whom he had developed an online relationship through popular social networking sites such as Badoo and Hot or Not.

Felicity's profile was listed under the name Felicity30, and she claimed to be only 15 years old. Hack apparently thought he was engaging with an adult woman and claimed he intended to offer her sexual education. However, the entire encounter was part of an elaborate sting orchestrated by a Welsh paedophile hunting group led by a woman named Jackie Kempson. The group had successfully created a fake profile to catch individuals like Hack, who were lured into thinking they were communicating with a teenage girl.

During their online conversations, which began around November 7, the chats quickly grew sexualized. Hack was encouraged by the fake profile to touch herself sexually, and he even sent a picture he claimed depicted his penis. Despite these explicit exchanges, Hack suggests he was trying to establish a non-physical form of sexual education, and he indicated a willingness to wait until Felicity turned 16 before engaging in any sexual activity.

On November 18, Hack arranged to meet Felicity at a Morrison's supermarket in Kingsbridge, believing that this would be their first in-person encounter. Unbeknownst to him, members of Plymouth Against Paedophiles, alerted by Ms. Kempson, were monitoring the situation. They detained Hack outside the supermarket before the police could arrive.

The police and prosecution highlighted that Hack's intentions appeared to be geared toward initiating illicit sexual contact with someone he thought was a minor. The evidence included chat logs that detailed the progression of their conversations and the eventual plan to meet.

Hack was arrested and later admitted to attempting to meet a child following grooming and attempting to encourage a girl to engage in sexual activity. In court at Exeter Crown Court, Judge Erik Salomonsen described Hack’s actions as serious offenses. The judge stated that Hack was set up by the paedophile hunting group and that his decision to proceed with the meeting was a consequence of succumbing to online deception.

In light of these circumstances, Hack was sentenced to 16 months imprisonment, with the sentence suspended for two years. Additional conditions imposed by the court included mandatory attendance at a sex offenders' rehabilitation program and a requirement to participate in ten days of treatment activities. Furthermore, Hack was ordered to register as a sex offender for the next decade and was subjected to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order. This order restricts his contact with children and grants law enforcement agencies the authority to scrutinize his online activities.

Addressing Hack's personal circumstances, the judge acknowledged his role as the primary caregiver for his seriously ill grandmother and recognized his social isolation. Despite the seriousness of the crimes, the sentence was suspended to allow Hack to continue caring for her and to engage with available treatment programs that could only be accessed within the community.

Prosecutor Caroline Bolt highlighted that the entire operation was a coordinated effort initiated by initial contact with the fictitious profile, which then escalated to discussions about meeting at the Kingsbridge supermarket. Hack was intercepted by members of Plymouth Against Paedophiles, who detained him until police arrived to take him into custody.

Defending Hack, lawyer James Taghdissian explained that Hack, initially believing the profile to belong to a woman in her 30s due to the profile name, had continued the web chats after being told the girl was 15. He emphasized that Hack had suggested waiting until Felicity turned 16 and did not intend to have full sexual contact during their meeting. The defense underscored Hack's role as a carer and his loneliness and social isolation as factors influencing his actions.

This case highlights the ongoing dangers of online grooming and the importance of vigilant law enforcement and community groups working together to prevent potential abuse, especially in small communities such as Holsworthy and surrounding areas.