GARETH ROGERS SENTENCED IN LIVERPOOL FOR CHILD GROOMING AND SEXUAL ADVANCEMENT
A man named Gareth Rogers, of Easton Road, New Ferry, was convicted of engaging in child grooming and attempting to meet a 13-year-old girl in Liverpool.Rogers, a 41-year-old father of two, arranged to meet the girl at a McDonald's restaurant in Hunts Cross, with the intent of taking her back to his home for sexual activity.
He had claimed he wanted "Lily" to be his "friend with benefits" while his wife was working and his children were at daycare.
Rogers falsely reassured Lily that he had had a vasectomy so he wouldn't need to wear a condom, though he was actually communicating with an undercover police officer during the entire conversation.
According to Liverpool Crown Court, an officer set up a fake Kik Messenger profile on November 15, 2019.
Prosecutor David Watson explained that on January 22, 2020, Lily received a message from a profile named GDR1980, claiming to be a 39-year-old from Wirral.
Rogers initiated contact by saying, "Looking to chat, flirt, maybe more, hoping to hear from you soon, Gareth." The messages escalated, with Rogers requesting nude photos, discussing his work from home at a software firm, and urging Lily to delete their chats.
Rogers proceeded to ask about her personal behaviour, suggesting sexual activity, and noted he had been on Kik Messenger for over a year.
On January 23, Lily affirmed her age as 13, but Rogers requested a photo of her, which she declined, instead sending him a headshot of himself.
He divulged that he was seeking someone to help him out of his wife’s dissatisfaction and later, on January 27, expressed the need to be cautious because of their age difference.
By January 30, he referred to her as a "tease." By February 18, Rogers expressed that he was "looking for a friend with benefits" and inquired about the type of sex Lily was willing to have, suggesting three different options.
He then proposed a meeting, specifying that it would be convenient for him while his family was out.
He arranged to meet her on February 21 at McDonald's between 9:30 and 10:00 am, claiming that if it was her first time, they could proceed at her pace, and that he had had a vasectomy, so a condom was unnecessary.
Rogers also reassured her he would be gentle and requested nude photos to help her "overcome the hurdle." Despite questions about whether she was police or connected to law enforcement, Rogers went ahead with the meetup.
He was arrested at Hunts Cross early the following morning, with his phone seized.
During his interview, he claimed he intended to tell Lily that no further actions would occur between them.
However, prosecutors revealed that his last message suggested she order food to eat in his car en route to his house.
Rogers later admitted to the offences, stating he thought Lily was 13, calling himself "stupid" and expressing regret for not stopping sooner.
He pleaded guilty to charges including attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming, and inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.
He also admitted to possessing, taking, and distributing a Category C indecent image of a child.
Defence lawyer Cheryl Mottram told the court that Rogers, who had no previous convictions, was "genuinely remorseful." She explained, "He can offer no real explanation for why he engaged in the chat he did and finds it difficult to reconcile his behaviour during this period with the man he's been up to that point." Ms.
Mottram pointed out that the girl was not real, but emphasized that Rogers’ actions had "far-reaching consequences," affecting his personal life and community reputation.
She highlighted that Rogers’ wife had suffered taunts from community members aware of his court case, and had been left to handle their two young children alone, which she described as "very emotionally draining." The lawyer added that Rogers had lost his job and was now borrowing money from his father to cover his mortgage and bills.
She expressed hope that Rogers could "put this behind him," work on his personal deficits through prison courses, and reunite with his family upon release, emphasizing that his wife remains "supportive of him." Judge Anil Murray stated that Rogers believed he was in contact with a 13-year-old girl when he arranged to meet her and used flirtatious language, including saying he was "throbbing for her." The judge acknowledged the impact on Rogers' family, noting, "I understand the devastation this must have on your family, but as Ms.
Mottram says, I’m afraid that is your fault.
You've left your wife struggling with the children." He did note that Rogers' wife submitted a letter indicating she forgave him and described him as "a wonderful father." Rogers was sentenced to two years and four months in prison.
Additionally, he is required to sign the Sex Offenders Register and adhere to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for ten years.
