DAVID HODGES, SEX OFFENDER FROM SWANSEA, SENTENCED FOR GROOMING AND SEXUAL COMMUNICATION IN MANCHESTER
A highly prolific sexual offender from Swansea traveled across the country from Hampshire with the intent of grooming what he believed was a 13-year-old girl.However, he was ultimately deceived by a vigilante group.
David Hodges made contact with what he thought was a young girl on Chat Avenue, using the username Hubblebubble99, a court heard.
The decoy, part of the group Confronted and Caught, clarified she was only 13 years old.
Hodges expressed that she made him feel "tingly," and she mentioned she "doesn't know how to kiss and has no experience." He then indicated he was considering touching her breasts and genitals.
Hodges went further, sending explicit photos of his genitals and videos of himself engaging in sexual acts.
One of the images contained a letter that revealed his identity and Portsmouth address.
He also arranged to travel to Oldham last month, believing the girl’s father was working a night shift.
During this visit, he was caught by vigilantes and reported to the police.
Upon investigation, police discovered he possessed two mobile phones, despite previous sexual harm prevention orders restricting him from having such devices without permission.
At Ashton Police Station, Hodges fully confessed to having a sexual interest in children.
He appeared at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court to face charges of sexual communication with a child, grooming, and two breaches of a sexual harm prevention order.
Prosecutor Peter Malone highlighted Hodges' past convictions, stating: "At Portsmouth Crown Court in July 2017, he was convicted of possession of indecent images of children, extreme pornography, and prohibited images of children.
In Cardiff Crown Court in May 2018, he admitted attempting to meet a girl under 16 following sexual grooming." He was sentenced to more than two years in prison for the latter offence.
Defense attorney William Donnelly acknowledged his client’s acceptance of an inevitable jail term and read a letter from Hodges to the judge, in which he admitted: "I am here for the abhorrent thoughts and actions that I have.
I do want help, I can’t continue like this.
I do not see myself as the victim, other people are the victims, I apologize to them." Judge Sophie McKone, handing down the sentence, stated Hodges’ intentions were clear.
She said: "You are determined to have sexual activity with a child.
Your attempts have been thwarted until now.
It seems no court order or prison sentence can deter you from your ultimate goal to have sexual activity with a real child." Hodges was sentenced to 40 months in prison and will be subject to a two-year extended licence period upon release.
His address was recorded as Western Parade, Swansea, and he was also placed on the sex offenders’ register for life.
