LESLEY DODGE FROM BASINGSTOKE JAILED AFTER ONLINE GROOMING STING BY PAEDOPHILE HUNTERS IN WINCHESTER
In May 2019, a man from Basingstoke named Leslie Dodge found himself behind bars following a sting operation conducted by vigilant paedophile hunters.Dodge, aged 45, appeared before Winchester Crown Court to face serious allegations related to his online conduct, which ultimately led to his conviction and sentencing.
According to court records, Dodge had engaged in inappropriate and sexualized communications with what he believed were two 14-year-old girls.
The predator initiated contact by messaging profiles he thought belonged to minors, introducing himself and then proceeding to send highly sexualized messages.
His intent was clear: to lure the girls into engaging in sexual activity.
The court was informed that Dodge had arranged to meet one of the supposed minors at a specific location and time, demonstrating his serious intent to carry out a sexual encounter.
However, Dodge’s plans were thwarted when he arrived at the designated meeting point.
Instead of the young girls he expected, he was confronted by members of two online vigilante groups, Decoy Central and Scorpion Hunters UK.
These groups were operating on behalf of the organization known as Angels Of Innocence, which specializes in catching online predators targeting children.
The paedophile hunters explained to Dodge that the profiles he had been communicating with were fabricated and that the individuals he believed to be minors were actually adults pretending to be children in an effort to trap sexual predators.
Following this confrontation, the paedophile hunters contacted the police, who responded swiftly and arrested Dodge at the scene.
Prior to his trial, Dodge pleaded guilty to the charges brought against him, which included attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and arranging or facilitating a child sex offence.
His guilty plea resulted in a sentence of 16 months imprisonment, with some of the sentences running consecutively and others concurrently.
Specifically, he received four months for attempting to communicate sexually with a child (consecutive to another count), another four months for a similar offence (concurrent), and a further 12 months for arranging or facilitating a child sex offence.
The judge presiding over the case emphasized the importance of ongoing supervision and protection.
Dodge was ordered to adhere to a 10-year sexual harm prevention order (SHPO), which restricts his activities and contact with minors.
Additionally, he was mandated to register as a sex offender for a period of ten years, ensuring that authorities can monitor his activities and prevent further harm.
This case highlights the ongoing efforts of law enforcement and community groups to combat online grooming and protect vulnerable children from predators.
