DENYS TEREBENETS FROM MANCHESTER ESCAPES JAIL AFTER CHILD SEX OFFENCES STING IN DROYLSDEN
In a case that has shocked the local community, 27-year-old IT worker Denys Terebenets from Manchester was spared immediate imprisonment after admitting to serious child sex offences.The incident came to light in January when police responded to a report at an address in Droylsden, Tameside, where a vigilante group, known as 'Undercover and Expose,' was attempting to detain a man they believed had committed sexual offences.
During the subsequent investigation, Terebenets was arrested and taken to Ashton police station.
Initially, he denied exchanging explicit messages with decoys, claiming he was attempting to catch individuals posing as minors in chat rooms under false identities.
However, police uncovered evidence that contradicted his claims, revealing a disturbing pattern of behaviour.
Messages exchanged with a decoy posing as a 12-year-old girl named 'Macey-Lee' showed Terebenets, who used the alias 'Michael 0714,' quickly becoming sexual in nature.
He made graphic suggestions and sent pornographic images to the decoy.
Similar conduct was observed in another chat with a decoy posing as a 13-year-old girl called 'Nat,' where he engaged in explicit conversations.
He pleaded guilty to two counts of attempting to incite a child under 13 to engage in sexual acts and two counts of attempting to cause a child to watch a sexual act.
The court was informed that, under sentencing guidelines, he could have faced a minimum of three years in prison for these offences.
At Minshull Street Crown Court, Judge John Edwards considered the mitigation presented by Terebenets' legal team.
His defence highlighted that the defendant had no prior convictions and had already committed to a course with the Lucy Faithful Foundation, a charity dedicated to preventing child sexual abuse.
The judge was also told that Terebenets' partner was due to give birth to their first child within days, with an induction scheduled in the coming days.
Defense counsel argued that a custodial sentence would expose Terebenets to more experienced inmates, particularly those in the Vulnerable Prisoners Unit, which could potentially lead to further manipulation or influence.
They emphasized that such environments often involve offenders who are manipulative and may induce others into similar patterns of offending.
In his sentencing remarks, Judge Edwards expressed that he was persuaded by the mitigation and a probation report, which recommended that Terebenets' risk to society could be effectively managed within the community.
The judge acknowledged the disturbing nature of the offences, noting that decoys are used to trap individuals like Terebenets, and warned of the harm such cases cause by fueling a harmful market.
Despite the gravity of the charges, the judge decided that a community order was appropriate.
Terebenets was sentenced to a three-year community order and will be required to remain on the Sex Offenders Register for five years.
As he was allowed to leave the court, his mother was visibly distressed, weeping in the public gallery, as he was permitted to walk free.
The court's decision underscores the complex balance between punishment and rehabilitation in cases involving serious sexual offences against minors.
