DAVID WESLING CAUGHT IN RIPON ONLINE PREDATOR PLOT INVOLVING WALES CHILD

In August 2019, a disturbing case unfolded involving David Wesling, a well-known music teacher and cellist from Ripon, who was found guilty of engaging in online sexual activities with a minor after being caught by vigilant paedophile hunters. The case was heard at York Crown Court, revealing the disturbing details of Wesling’s actions and the efforts of online groups to expose predators.

According to court proceedings, Wesling, aged 45, initiated contact with what he believed was a 12-year-old girl on a website called ‘Chat Hour’. Unbeknownst to him, the profile he contacted was part of an undercover operation by Keeping Kids Safe (KKS), an online organization dedicated to identifying and apprehending online predators. The decoy, a member of KKS’s Wales branch, posed as a young girl and engaged in conversations with Wesling, who then continued the interaction through WhatsApp, an encrypted messaging platform.

During these exchanges, Wesling, a private music tutor who has taught at various schools across the Harrogate district and a former cellist and chorister with Ripon Cathedral Choir, made increasingly inappropriate requests. He asked for intimate photographs and inquired if she wanted to see him naked. Court documents detailed how Wesling stripped off his clothes during video calls with the decoy, explicitly stating his desire to be her “slave”. Prosecutor Paul Newcombe highlighted that Wesling repeatedly sought to obtain a full-body picture of the girl, despite being told she was only 12 and that she was unwell and staying with her nan in South Wales.

Wesling’s actions escalated as he exposed himself during video chats and urged the decoy not to tell anyone about their interactions. The decoy explained that her camera was broken, which was used as a cover to avoid sending pictures, but she continued to insist she was a child. The group’s members in England received a tip from the Welsh decoy about a man posing a threat to children, leading them to confront Wesling at his residence in Ripon. Police were then contacted, and chat logs were handed over as evidence.

Despite the mounting evidence, Wesling maintained his innocence, claiming that his actions were part of “classic role-play” and “fantasy”. He insisted he believed the person on the other end was an adult, as she had claimed on her profile, and that he was not interested in children. However, the prosecution presented evidence, including a profile picture of a real 12-year-old girl that the decoy had used, which contradicted his claims.

Wesling was subsequently arrested and faced multiple charges, including three counts of attempting to incite a child under 13 to watch a sexual act, one count of attempting to communicate with a child, and one count of attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity. These offences took place between January 10 and February 4 of the same year.

During the trial, Wesling denied all allegations, asserting that he believed the ‘girl’ was an adult engaging in a fantasy scenario and that his actions were a form of escapism. He also questioned the relevance of his past internet activity, which included searches for “pre-teen” material in 2014, suggesting no sexual interest in children. Nevertheless, the evidence indicated that Wesling had previously visited websites seeking underage material.

In court, Mr. Newcombe pointed out that Wesling had asked the decoy about her school uniform and the length of her skirt, which he claimed was typical role-play with a consenting adult. Wesling admitted to viewing pornography online long ago but denied any sexual interest in minors. The prosecution, however, emphasized that his online history betrayed a pattern of interest in underage females.

Throughout the interactions, Wesling told the decoy, “If we do play, you can’t say anything. I don’t want you to get into trouble or me. Don’t tell anyone about me.” When asked if her age was the reason, he responded “yes,” and asked her to delete their chats, claiming it was part of the role-play.

Judge Sean Morris ordered the case to be adjourned until September 6, when sentencing will take place. Wesling was released on bail pending the sentencing hearing, which will determine the final outcome of this serious case involving online predatory behavior from a respected figure in the Ripon community.