Bradford sex offender jailed after paedophile-hunter sting

BRADFORD SEX OFFENDER JAILED AFTER PAEDOPHILE-HUNTER STING

A man named Lee Burke, aged 41, residing on Fender Road in Bradford, has been sentenced to six years in prison after being found guilty of three child sex offenses.

He was caught in a police sting arranged by paedophile hunters after he attempted to meet a girl he believed to be 14 years old for sex.

Burke had initiated online contact with a decoy profile posing as a child in December 2021.

Despite being told the person he was speaking to was only 14, Burke commented on her photo as "sexy" and "hot," and expressed his desire for her to be his "secret girlfriend." He also asked to meet up but said he did not want anyone to know about their communication to avoid prison.

Burke was on license following a previous sexual abuse conviction against a young girl.

The police arrested him after he called them to complain about the paedophile hunters, who had confronted him at his home and posted footage online.

During court proceedings, Burke claimed he was "a changed man" and had done nothing wrong, asserting he knew he was speaking to a decoy and was trying to expose entrapment.

However, a jury convicted him of attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity, attempting to engage in sexual communications with a child, and attempting to cause a child to watch a sexual act.

Judge Andrew Haslam KC described Burke as "a devious and dangerous man" and noted he attempted to deceive the jury about his intentions.

Burke will serve two-thirds of his sentence before parole eligibility and will be on license for three years post-release.

He is required to register as a sex offender for life.