DEAN TAYLOR OF WORCESTER CHARGED WITH ONLINE SEX OFFENCES IN COURT
A 41-year-old man from Sawmill Close, Worcester, named Dean Taylor, appeared before magistrates in Worcester today (Thursday) after attempting to engage in sexual conversations with a girl he believed was 13 years old.In reality, Taylor was communicating with undercover officers working for the Metropolitan Police as part of an operation aimed at catching online predators and protecting children.
Taylor sought permission to leave the court via a back entrance, but security staff denied this request.
During the hearing, he pleaded guilty to four sexual offences.
He admitted attempting to communicate sexually with a child between February 14, 2019, and June 22, 2019, with the intent of obtaining sexual gratification.
The charges include attempting to cause or incite a girl aged 13 to 15 to engage in sexual activity within the same period, as well as attempting to cause a child of similar age to view or look at images of sexual activity.
Details of the offences involve encouraging the ‘child’ to perform sexual acts and send explicit photos of herself, which Taylor referred to as ‘naughty photos’.
He also attempted to send a video depicting a male performing a sexual act.
Prosecutor Mark Hambling stated that Taylor was caught through an online initiative by the Metropolitan Police using the Kik social media platform.
He clarified that the 13-year-old the defendant was communicating with was an online 'stopping point' and does not exist.
Hambling noted that the sentencing guidelines suggest a starting point of 18 months in prison for attempted sexual communication with a child, with potential to range from nine to 24 months.
For inciting or causing a child to engage in sexual activity, the starting point is 26 weeks, with a possible range from a high-level community order to three years’ custody.
He advised that the case should be sent to the crown court for sentencing.
Additionally, Taylor is now required to register as a sex offender.
Defence lawyer Paul Stanley stated, 'I have nothing to say in terms of jurisdiction.' Taylor is scheduled to appear at Worcester Crown Court on Friday, May 13, and, having been on a postal requisition, was granted unconditional bail by the court.
