LEE SANDERS CAUGHT IN LONDON PAEDOPHILE HUNT AND JAILED FOR GROOMING
In a serious case that highlights ongoing efforts to combat online child exploitation, Lee Sanders of Abbeywood, London, was brought before Woolwich Crown Court in July 2018 to face charges related to attempted sexual offenses against a minor.Sanders pleaded guilty to two significant charges: first, attempting to incite a child under the age of 13 to engage in sexual activity, and second, attempting to engage in sexual activity with a minor.
The court was informed that Sanders had initiated contact with what he believed was a 12-year-old girl through an online profile.
During the communication, he sent sexually explicit messages, clearly indicating his intentions to engage in sexual acts with the girl and even suggesting a meeting in person.
However, the individual Sanders believed he was communicating with was not a young girl at all.
Instead, it was an adult member of the online child protection team known as ‘Cobra’.
This team specializes in setting up sting operations by posing as children online to catch predators attempting to exploit minors.
Members of ‘Cobra’ confronted Sanders during a carefully coordinated sting operation.
They questioned him about his online activity and intentions, which led to his immediate arrest by police officers called to the scene.
The swift response and effective sting operation prevented any potential harm to a real child.
In sentencing, the court determined that Sanders’ actions warranted a prison term.
Although the total sentence for both charges was 24 months, the sentences were ordered to run concurrently, resulting in a final prison term of 15 months.
Additionally, Sanders was subject to a sexual harm prevention order that will remain in effect for ten years.
He was also informed that he would be registered on the sex offenders register indefinitely, reflecting the serious nature of his offenses and the ongoing risk he poses to the community.
