DEVON PAEDOPHILE KEVIN JARRATT CAUGHT IN ILFRACOMBE SEX STING

In July 2020, a disturbing case unfolded in Ilfracombe, Devon, involving Kevin Jarratt, a man accused of engaging in predatory behavior towards a minor. The incident was part of a coordinated effort by paedophile hunters who successfully exposed Jarratt’s inappropriate conduct through an undercover operation.

Jarratt, aged 58 and residing on Cambridge Grove in Ilfracombe, became the focus of a sting conducted by a vigilant group known as SGTI, which collaborated with local units including Totnes Justice and UK Database. The operation was triggered after Jarratt initiated contact with what he believed was a 14-year-old girl named Bella on the Randochat app. Under the alias 'Beauty and the Darkness,' he engaged in explicit conversations, sending two images of his erect penis and requesting intimate images in return. Despite being reminded that Bella was only 14, Jarratt continued to send sexually explicit messages, boasting about having sex with underage children and offering to teach her how to masturbate.

His actions did not stop there. Jarratt sent two photographs of himself and even offered to send a video, further demonstrating his intent to exploit the minor. The paedophile hunters, recognizing the danger, called in law enforcement and the local groups to confront him at his home in Ilfracombe. The operation culminated in a search of Jarratt’s residence, where authorities seized various items as evidence.

During the subsequent legal proceedings, Jarratt admitted to attempting to incite a child to sexual activity. His defense lawyer, Miss Legiea Girard, argued that his behavior was influenced by social isolation caused by the Covid-19 lockdown, which began on March 28 and persisted until his arrest on June 20. The court heard that Jarratt had been actively engaging in these illicit communications over this period.

Following his guilty plea, Jarratt was ordered to attend a 34-session sex offenders treatment program and participate in ten days of rehabilitation activities. Magistrates in Exeter, where the case was heard, also mandated that he register as a sex offender. The case has been scheduled for sentencing at Exeter Crown Court on July 20, where a judge will determine the final penalty. Until then, Jarratt remains on conditional bail, awaiting his sentencing hearing.

In a related development earlier in June 2020, Jarratt faced a separate charge of attempting to groom a 14-year-old girl. The incident involved a paedophile hunter sting operation that resulted in a search of his home and the seizure of evidence. Jarratt pleaded guilty to the charge of attempting to incite a minor to engage in sexual activity, which involved sending explicit images and requesting indecent images from the girl. Magistrates ordered him to sign the sex offenders register, and his case was transferred to Exeter Crown Court for sentencing scheduled on July 20. He remains on conditional bail pending the final judgment.