MARTYN GREEN FROM RADCLIFFE CAUGHT IN WIGAN BY PAEDOPHILE HUNTERS

In a case that highlights the ongoing efforts to combat online predatory behavior, Martyn Green, a resident of Radcliffe, was apprehended by law enforcement officers after traveling to Wigan with the apparent intent of engaging in sexual activity with a schoolgirl. The incident unfolded in the town of Hindley, specifically on Argyle Street, where Green believed he was meeting a 14-year-old girl named Alex, whom he had been communicating with via social media platforms.

According to court proceedings held at Bolton Crown Court, Green, aged 28 and residing at Kirkstall Gardens in Radcliffe, had been actively engaging with what he thought was a minor. He had sent explicit photographs of himself, including one intimate image, and expressed a desire to have sex with the girl. The court was informed that Green's communications spanned from December 2017 to January 2018, during which he attempted to establish a meeting with the supposed minor.

Unbeknownst to Green, the individual he was communicating with was part of a sting operation conducted by so-called “paedophile hunters,” who had set up the trap and contacted emergency services when Green arrived at the designated meeting point. When he arrived at the agreed location, police officers were already waiting for him, having been alerted by the hunters who had called 999.

Green’s arrest and subsequent court hearing revealed the extent of his intentions. He admitted to attempting to contact a 14-year-old girl for sexual gratification and to meeting her in January 2018. His actions have been classified as serious offenses involving the attempted exploitation of a minor.

As a result of his guilty plea, Green was sentenced to 18 months in prison, though the sentence was suspended for two years. Additionally, he is required to sign the Sex Offenders’ Register for a period of ten years and is subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order that will remain in effect for the same duration. These measures are part of ongoing efforts to monitor and prevent further offenses by Green and individuals with similar criminal backgrounds.