GLEN WALKER FROM REPTON ESCAPES JAIL AFTER ONLINE SEXUAL CHAT WITH FAKE TEENS IN DERBYSHIRE

In October 2018, a disturbing case unfolded involving Glen Walker, a 52-year-old man from Repton, Derbyshire, who engaged in online conversations with individuals he believed to be two 14-year-old girls. Unbeknownst to him, these girls were actually members of a vigilante group known as 'Keeping Kids Safe,' who were conducting a sting operation to catch potential predators. Walker, a self-employed builder residing on Askew Grove in Repton, was caught attempting to initiate sexual contact through explicit messages and propositions.

According to court proceedings at Derby Crown Court, Walker had asked the fictitious girls, named “Kirsty” and “Amber,” to send photographs of themselves touching their private parts. He also inquired about the size of their breasts and expressed a desire to meet them in person, offering to buy them 'sexy underwear.' Furthermore, he explicitly stated his wish to have sex with them, demonstrating a clear intent to engage in sexual activity with minors.

Walker’s plans were thwarted when he traveled to Burton, where the vigilante group had arranged to meet him. The group streamed the encounter live on Facebook, capturing the moment of his arrest. During police questioning, Walker initially denied knowing the girls were only 14 years old, claiming he believed they were 18. He also denied any attempt to meet them in person. However, when presented with chat logs during a subsequent interview, he suggested that a friend had tipped him off that the girls might be paedophile hunters, implying he was aware he was not communicating with real children.

The court was informed that Walker’s online activity began in July of the previous year. Ian Way, the prosecutor, explained that Walker’s messages included comments such as “I bet you have got a sexy body for your age,” and questions about their virginity, underwear, and breast size. His explicit intentions to meet and have sexual contact with the girls were evident from the chat logs.

Initially, Walker faced a sentencing hearing, but it was adjourned due to concerns about his attitude and his apparent lack of remorse. The judge, Nirmal Shant QC, expressed her reservations about his denial of the seriousness of his actions and his unwillingness to accept help from the probation service. She noted that although Walker had pleaded guilty, he had not fully accepted his culpability and appeared to be in denial about the gravity of his offending.

In her ruling, Judge Shant imposed a three-year community order on Walker. This included 100 hours of unpaid work and mandatory attendance at a community sex offender programme. She emphasized that the order aimed to penalize him and address his attitude towards children, warning that any breach over the next three years would result in a custodial sentence. Walker responded affirmatively when asked if he understood the conditions.

Prosecutor Ian Way highlighted that Walker’s actions were serious, given that he believed he was communicating with minors. The case underscored the importance of vigilant efforts by groups like 'Keeping Kids Safe' in protecting children from online predators. Walker’s case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by online grooming and the importance of safeguarding minors from exploitation and abuse.