NEIL WHEATLEY CAUGHT IN EVEESHAM ONLINE POLICE STING FOR SEXUAL OFFENSES

In a disturbing case that highlights the dangers of online predators, Neil Wheatley, a 32-year-old resident of Chesnut Close, Hampton, Evesham, has been sentenced to prison after falling victim to an undercover police operation. The incident unfolded in May 2017 when Wheatley was lured into a trap set by law enforcement officers posing as underage girls on the internet.

Wheatley engaged in a series of inappropriate and illegal activities after establishing contact with what he believed was a 13-year-old girl. The police officer, who created a fake profile within a chat room designated for 13 to 17-year-olds, maintained the deception to gather evidence against Wheatley. Once the officer confirmed the age of the profile as 13, Wheatley proceeded to commit a sexual act on himself while online, under the false impression that a young girl was watching.

During the interaction, Wheatley also displayed sex toys and made further inappropriate inquiries. He asked the fake girl if she had a friend, and when she responded that she could introduce her to a 12-year-old girl, Wheatley suggested that the girl should also watch the act. The conversation took a more alarming turn when Wheatley expressed a desire to meet in person so she could witness the sexual act firsthand.

Wheatley's actions led to his arrest and subsequent court proceedings. He pleaded guilty to charges of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child and attempting to facilitate a sexual act in front of a child. The court sentenced him to 12 months in prison, with the sentence to be served immediately.

In addition to his prison term, Wheatley was subjected to a sexual harm prevention order that will last for ten years. This order prohibits him from having any unsupervised contact with children under the age of 16 and imposes strict monitoring and restrictions on his internet usage. Furthermore, Wheatley is required to register as a sex offender for a decade, ensuring ongoing oversight of his activities and compliance with legal obligations designed to protect the community from potential harm.