JONATHAN WALES CAUGHT IN CROYDON AFTER WASTING PAEDOPHILES' TIME

On September 17, 2008, a disturbing case unfolded involving a Croydon resident whose actions disrupted the activities of other convicted sex offenders. Jonathan Wales, aged 33 and residing on Violet Lane in Croydon, devised a scheme to pose as a 12-year-old girl named Jessica in an effort to waste the time of approximately 15 men with known or suspected paedophile tendencies.

Wales's scheme was uncovered when authorities traced his details through the mobile phone of Gerald Tapp, a 56-year-old former Mormon bishop from Gravesend. Tapp's phone contained evidence linking him to Wales, which ultimately led to Wales's identification and arrest. Prosecutor Lucy Luttman revealed during a court hearing at Maidstone Crown Court on September 12 that Wales had a prior criminal record involving indecent images of children, having been previously jailed for related charges.

It was reported that Wales was particularly frustrated by the fact that some offenders managed to evade justice or continue their illicit activities despite their convictions. To retaliate or perhaps to expose or distract these individuals, Wales engaged in a calculated effort to waste their time by engaging them online under the false identity of Jessica. His actions were not merely idle; authorities found that he possessed over 1,000 indecent images of children stored on his laptop and a USB drive, which he admitted to possessing, creating, and distributing such material. Wales faced a total of 38 charges related to these offences and was subsequently sentenced to three and a half years in prison.

Meanwhile, the investigation into Tapp revealed a far more extensive collection of illegal material. Police discovered that Tapp had amassed more than 24,000 indecent images and 948 stills from movies depicting children on a family computer. Tapp, who also admitted to 34 charges of making, distributing, and possessing indecent images, was sentenced to the same term of three and a half years. Further disturbing evidence uncovered during the investigation included footage of Tapp filming up the skirts of schoolgirls at a school where he worked as a design technician. Police also found videos of children in Gravesend town centre.

In a statement, Tapp's wife, Jenny, expressed her shock and dismay upon learning of her husband's activities. She stated, “It came as a great shock to me that my husband was involved in this activity, as I was totally unaware of his actions. Once I began to have suspicions, I spoke to him and persuaded him to hand himself in to police and make a full confession of his crimes. I do not condone his despicable actions.”

After Tapp surrendered himself to authorities on March 28, police efforts to trace the online identity of ‘Jessica’ led them directly to Wales. Both men were placed on the sex offenders’ register and prohibited from working with children, reflecting the serious nature of their crimes and the ongoing efforts to protect vulnerable minors from exploitation and abuse.