DAVID JACKSON CAUGHT IN PAULTON TRYING TO MEET UNDERAGE GIRL IN BATH - SUSPENDED SENTENCE

In a significant case highlighting the ongoing efforts to combat online grooming and child exploitation, David Jackson, a 43-year-old man from Orchard Road in Paulton, found himself at the center of a serious legal confrontation in Bath. The incident unfolded in July when Jackson arranged to meet what he believed was a 13-year-old girl in New King Street, Bath, after engaging in a series of explicit online communications.

Jackson had been communicating with a decoy account operated by a self-styled paedophile hunter known as Danny Catcher. Over the course of their online exchanges, Jackson sent numerous explicit messages, including requests for sexually explicit photographs, inquiries about the girl’s breast size, and even sent a photograph of himself. These actions clearly indicated grooming behavior, as Jackson sought to establish a sexualized relationship with the purported minor.

On the day of the planned meeting, Jackson arrived at the designated location in Bath, specifically in New King Street, expecting to meet the girl. However, instead of the minor, he was confronted by Danny Catcher, who had been monitoring the online interactions. Catcher, acting in a citizen’s arrest capacity, detained Jackson and promptly contacted Avon and Somerset police to report the incident.

Jackson was subsequently taken into custody and appeared before Bristol Crown Court on March 14. During the court proceedings, he faced charges related to attempting to meet a minor for sexual purposes after grooming her online. The court sentenced Jackson to a six-month prison term, which was suspended for two years, meaning he would not serve time unless he committed another offense within that period. Additionally, Jackson was ordered to complete a 60-day rehabilitation program aimed at addressing behavioral issues and was required to register as a sex offender.

Expressing his satisfaction with the outcome, Danny Catcher stated, “I’m incredibly pleased to hear that Jackson has been sentenced to a six-month jail term suspended for 24 months, with an order to sign to the register of sex offenders.” This case underscores the importance of vigilant online monitoring and the ongoing efforts by community members and authorities to protect children from exploitation and abuse.