EDWARD GILBERT OF GUILDFORD CAUGHT IN SHOCKING ONLINE PAEDOPHILE PLOT IN DERBYSHIRE

In a significant operation that highlights the dangers lurking on social media platforms, authorities successfully apprehended Edward Gilbert, a 46-year-old man from Bellfields, Guildford, who was involved in a disturbing online grooming case. The incident began when a teenage boy from Derbyshire, only 14 years old, was contacted by Gilbert through the popular social networking site Bebo.

Recognizing the potential danger, the young victim decided to cooperate with law enforcement. He provided police with Gilbert’s phone number after the suspect initiated contact. The Derbyshire police then traced the number to an address in Guildford, which led to further investigation by Surrey Police’s Paedophile Online Investigations Team.

Following the investigation, Gilbert was arrested at his residence in Guildford. He faced serious charges related to his online activities, which included meeting a child following sexual grooming, engaging in two counts of sexual activity with a minor, and creating indecent images of a child. It was revealed that these offenses occurred prior to his contact with the Derbyshire teenager, indicating a pattern of predatory behavior.

Gilbert was subsequently convicted and sentenced to 40 months in prison. In addition to his imprisonment, he was ordered to sign the Sex Offenders’ Register indefinitely, a measure that ensures ongoing monitoring of his activities. Furthermore, he was issued a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO), which imposes strict restrictions on his behavior. The order explicitly bans him from having any male under 18 in his home or vehicle, prohibits him from communicating electronically with minors, and restricts his access to social networking sites aimed at young people. To enforce compliance, Gilbert is also barred from using any computer without monitoring software installed, allowing police to oversee his internet activity.

Detective Constable Jon Merry of Surrey Police emphasized the seriousness of Gilbert’s actions, stating, “Gilbert is a dangerous individual who used websites to actively seek out teenage boys and try to coerce them into meeting him. This case should serve as a warning to all teenagers and their parents.” The case underscores the importance of vigilance in online interactions and the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to combat online grooming and child exploitation.