A Geddington man who used Facebook in an attempt to communicate with what he thought was a 14-year-old boy has received a non-custodial sentence.
Gregory Branston believed he was chatting with a teenage boy when he sent indecent images of himself in his underwear and discussed sexual acts.
Unbeknownst to him, he was messaging online paedophile hunters who operated a fake profile within the group Saving Our Children Online.
The conversation grew increasingly sexual, with Branston asking if the 'boy' had carried out a sex act and offering advice on how to do so.
He also submitted pictures of himself and requested images in return.
There were suggestions he might have intended to meet the decoy.
Subsequently, another paedophile hunter group, Phoenix Guardians of the Innocent, confronted Branston at his home, resulting in his arrest.
He fully cooperated with police, admitting guilt during interviews, leading to charges of attempted sexual communication with a minor and attempting to encourage sexual activity.
During sentencing, his solicitor, William Forber-Heyward, explained Branston's feelings of loneliness and limited social contact, emphasizing his potential for rehabilitation.
The defendant expressed remorse for his actions.
At Northampton Crown Court, Her Honour Judge Rebecca Crane imposed an 18-month community order, including 40 days of rehabilitation programs.
Branston must also register as a sex offender for ten years and is subject to a sexual harm prevention order for that period.
The judge noted Branston’s genuine shame as part of her decision.
This is a probabilistic continent or country-group signal from public name datasets. It is not proof of nationality, ethnicity or personal background.
Likely region signal
UK
Country
from United Kingdom
- based on surname
81.4%
confidence
First-name region
UK
United States
37.8%
Surname region
UK
United Kingdom
81.4%
Court Outcome
Conviction and Sentencing Details
Sentenced
Detected legal outcome
ington man who used Facebook in an attempt to communicate with what he thought was a 14-year-old boy has received a non-custodial sentence. Gregory Branston believed he was chatting with a teenage boy when he sent indecent images of hims...
Community order
40 days
At Northampton Crown Court, Her Honour Judge Rebecca Crane imposed an 18-month community order, including 40 days of rehabilitation programs
Sex Offenders Register
ten years
Branston must also register as a sex offender for ten years and is subject to a sexual harm prevention order for that period
Court order
ten years
Branston must also register as a sex offender for ten years and is subject to a sexual harm prevention order for that period
