BRADFORD PAEDOPHILE MARIO PALUMBO CAUGHT IN CHILD SEX CHAT SCANDAL
A man described as a 'dangerous' child predator was successfully tracked down to his residence in Bradford by a dedicated paedophile hunter group after engaging in highly inappropriate and sexually explicit conversations with a decoy posing as a 13-year-old girl.Mario Palumbo, a fitness instructor residing on Smiddles Lane in Bradford, became the focus of this investigation after he initiated contact with a fake Facebook profile created by the Child Safety Online Team.
The profile was designed to mimic a teenage girl, and Palumbo began messaging the account in September, showing a disturbing interest in the decoy.
During their exchanges, Palumbo sent explicit messages and nude images of himself, describing the decoy as 'absolutely adorable.' The Bradford Crown Court heard on Thursday, December 19, that Palumbo was already on prison licence at the time of these interactions.
He had previously been sentenced to four years in prison at Sheffield Crown Court in 2020 for making threats to kill.
Additionally, he was given an extended licence period of three years in 2020 after being classified as a dangerous offender.
Despite having no prior convictions for sexual offences, Palumbo claimed during the chat that he was only 26 years old.
He also suggested that if they were to meet in person, the girl would need to pretend to be his daughter or niece while shopping together, further indicating his inappropriate intentions.
Prosecutor David McGonigal detailed that Palumbo called the decoy 'sexy' and 'beautiful,' and even sent her images of lacy underwear that he thought she might want to wear.
The group involved in the operation managed to locate Palumbo’s address in Bradford.
When they arrived at his home, he attempted to escape through the back door.
Upon his arrest, Palumbo admitted to the authorities, saying, 'I know what I’ve done is wrong.
Please don’t contact the police because I’m on licence.' He appeared in court via a video link and pleaded guilty in October to two charges related to attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity.
His legal representative, John Bottomley, told the court that Palumbo was tearful, upset, and ashamed of his actions.
He acknowledged the seriousness of his offences and expressed remorse.
Judge Sophie McKone sentenced Palumbo to 40 months in prison and imposed a 10-year sexual harm prevention order.
This order restricts his future contact with anyone under the age of 16 and limits his internet usage.
Furthermore, Palumbo will be required to register as a sex offender for the next 10 years.
The judge emphasized that Palumbo believed he was communicating with a 13-year-old girl, and his actions clearly demonstrated a sexual interest in children.
She stated, 'You were fully aware that you were dealing with a child, certainly in your mind.' Although the decoy was fictitious, Palumbo believed she was real and engaged in sexually explicit conversations to satisfy his own sexual gratification.
