DAVID TULLY FROM LINCOLN ESCAPES JAIL AFTER PAEDOPHILE HUNTERS STING IN LINCOLN
In a case that has sent shockwaves through the city of Lincoln, a local man named David Tulley narrowly avoided imprisonment after being caught in a sting operation conducted by vigilant paedophile hunters.The incident, which unfolded in July 2020, involved Tulley's repeated attempts to engage with what he believed were underage girls via social media platforms.
According to court reports, Tulley, aged 24 and residing on Portland Street in Lincoln, initiated contact with what he thought were nine young girls, all aged between 12 and 14 years old.
His communications were deeply inappropriate, as he solicited explicit photographs and also sent indecent images of himself to these supposed minors.
Unbeknownst to him, the social media accounts he was communicating with were actually decoy profiles created by a group of paedophile hunters aiming to catch individuals attempting to exploit children.
Following these interactions, law enforcement authorities in Lincolnshire were alerted.
Tulley voluntarily attended Lincoln police station on June 13, 2020, where he was subsequently detained and later charged.
His court appearances began in December of the same year, when he was summoned to Lincoln Magistrates Court.
During the proceedings, he was remanded on unconditional bail, pending further hearings.
Prosecutor Mark Watson detailed the disturbing nature of Tulley's communications.
He explained that after establishing the age of the girls, Tulley would often profess love, claiming that they were his wife or girlfriend.
He would then proceed to request explicit images, including sending a photograph of his genitals.
The court was also informed that some of the decoy girls were encouraged to perform sexual acts, with two of them receiving indecent videos from Tulley.
In total, Tulley faced multiple charges, including four counts of attempted sexual communication with a child, eight counts of attempting to cause a child to watch a sexual act, two counts of attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity, and one additional charge of attempting to incite child pornography.
These offences spanned from September 1 to December 18, 2018.
During mitigation, Karen Walton, representing Tulley, stated that her client lives in supported housing and rarely leaves his residence.
She emphasized that Tulley has been isolating himself since his arrest and suffers from a fear of social interaction and going outside.
Walton also mentioned that Tulley has received threats since his offences became public and that, upon conclusion of the case, he is expected to relocate to supported accommodation outside Lincolnshire.
In sentencing, Judge John Pini QC handed down a two-year community order to Tulley.
Additionally, he imposed a five-year sexual harm prevention order to restrict his future conduct.
The judge highlighted the seriousness of the offences, noting that they involved multiple breaches under different sections of the Sexual Offences Act, and emphasized the importance of safeguarding children from such predatory behavior.
