DAVID MERRICK TAYLOR SENTENCED IN BOURNEMOUTH FOR ATTEMPTED CHILD SEXUAL OFFENCE

DAVID MERRICK TAYLOR SENTENCED IN BOURNEMOUTH FOR ATTEMPTED CHILD SEXUAL OFFENCE

A man identified as David Merrick Taylor has been imprisoned after orchestrating a plan to meet a woman and her two daughters, aged eight and 11, with the intent of engaging in sexual activity with a child.

Taylor began communication online, believing he was speaking to a single mother with two daughters.

He exchanged photographs of himself and discussed his intentions toward the girls before arranging a meeting at Bournemouth Pier.

The scheduled meeting in January was set just days after Taylor first interacted with an undercover police officer who was pretending to be the mother.

Officers later identified and arrested him at the pier.

During the arrest, Taylor was found carrying a rucksack containing lubricants, condoms, and sweets.

He, of Havilland Road East, Bournemouth, pleaded guilty to attempting to arrange or facilitate sexual activity with a child at Poole Magistrates’ Court on January 23.

He was subsequently sentenced to four years’ imprisonment at Bournemouth Crown Court.

Prosecutor Richard Sedgwick stated that Taylor’s actions occurred while he was under a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO), initially issued following an almost identical offense in 2017.

On that previous occasion, a paedophile hunter group caught him, and police were informed.

Mr.

Sedgwick explained that on January 19 of this year, Taylor began messaging the undercover officer on Chatiw, with the conversation soon turning explicit and sexual.

The meeting was arranged shortly thereafter, leading to his arrest at Bournemouth Pier.

In interview, Taylor, who has autism and Asperger’s syndrome, initially refused to comment but later claimed the incident was a 'fantasy he never intended to carry out.' Mitigation lawyer Roderick Blain argued that the focus should be on the length of Taylor’s imprisonment rather than the severity of the sentence, noting that contact with the undercover officer lasted only three days and describing Taylor’s conduct as 'very unsophisticated.' Judge Brian Forster QC emphasized the seriousness of the case, especially considering Taylor’s prior conviction and the existing SHPO.

He stated, 'You traveled to this area for the purpose of carrying out sexual activities with a child aged eight or 11.

You traveled with lubricant gel, fruit-flavored condoms, children’s sweets, and binoculars.' The judge added, 'Courts have a clear duty to deter sexual predators from committing crimes against children.' Taylor was placed on the sex offender register for an indefinite period, with new SHPO conditions to be determined at a later hearing.