HASTINGS PAEDOPHILE MARCUS OSBOURNE CAUGHT IN SHOCKING ONLINE CHAT SCANDAL

In a disturbing incident that unfolded in Hastings, a man named Marcus Osbourne was publicly confronted by the vigilant paedophile hunter group Children Online Battling Real Abuse (Cobra). The confrontation took place on his doorstep and was captured on video, revealing Osbourne engaging in inappropriate and sexualized communication with a decoy girl he believed was a minor.

Osbourne, aged 50 and a father of one, was seen in the footage attempting to deny any sexual communication with the girl. Initially, he claimed ignorance about her age, despite being warned that he had been informed of her true age. The volunteers from Cobra confronted him with the evidence, including the explicit messages he had sent. One of the Cobra members threatened to read out the messages in full, which prompted Osbourne to admit his guilt, stating, “I know I have done wrong. I have been thinking about it a lot and need to stop.”

During the confrontation, Osbourne admitted to engaging in sexual chat and even inviting the girl to perform sexual acts on herself. He expressed remorse, claiming that he started talking out of loneliness since he lives alone in Hastings and that the conversation had “probably got, a little bit too far.” However, the volunteers pointed out that his words had crossed a serious line, emphasizing the damaging impact such abuse has on victims and their families.

Following the confrontation, Cobra reported Osbourne to the police, leading to his appearance at Hove Crown Court. There, he pleaded guilty to two counts of an adult engaging in sexual communication with a child and possession of 21 indecent images of children. The court sentenced him to a community order, required him to complete 40 rehabilitation sessions with probation, and placed him on the sex offenders register for five years. Additionally, a sexual harm prevention order was issued, restricting his access to children and computer equipment.

Authorities seized Osbourne’s Acer laptop and iPhone, which were ordered to be destroyed as part of the case. The court’s actions reflect the seriousness of his offenses and the ongoing efforts to protect children from online predators. Osbourne’s address was noted as South Terrace, Hastings, where he was confronted by Cobra volunteers. This case underscores the importance of community vigilance and the dangers posed by online grooming and sexual exploitation.