RICHARD WOOD HORLEY PAEDOPHILE CAUGHT TRYING TO MEET 11-YEAR-OLD GIRL AT TESCO IN HOOKWOOD

In February 2017, a disturbing incident unfolded involving Richard Wood, a resident of Horley, who was caught in a sting operation orchestrated by a vigilant group of paedophile hunters. The incident took place at the Tesco supermarket located in Hookwood, a location familiar to many in the Surrey area. Wood, a 33-year-old man and father of six, had been engaging in a series of explicit online conversations with what he believed was an 11-year-old girl, but was actually a member of the Internet Interceptors, an activist group dedicated to exposing online predators.

According to court reports, Wood had been communicating with the fake profile, named Gemma, starting on December 1, 2016. The conversations initially took place on the chat application Waplog, where he expressed a desire to meet the girl and even invited her to his flat, mentioning his pet cat. As the days progressed, the dialogue moved to WhatsApp, and Wood's messages became increasingly explicit. Prosecutor Ross Talbot detailed that Wood told Gemma he wanted to kiss her breasts, lips, and stomach, and even discussed making love to her, despite being aware of her age and the potential legal consequences.

The conversations revealed a disturbing pattern of grooming, with Wood suggesting that Gemma lie on his bed and describing his intentions in graphic terms. The court was told that he was worried about getting into trouble or being arrested for his actions. The group had arranged a meeting for Saturday, December 10, outside Tesco at 11 a.m. to confront him.

On the day of the planned meeting, Sarah Doherty, the woman behind the fake profile, arrived at the designated location with two other adults, including a man filming the encounter. Doherty showed Wood a picture used for the fake profile, which he claimed he did not recognize, stating he was there to buy a new TV. The confrontation was recorded and later published by the Internet Interceptors, with the footage lasting approximately 40 minutes. In the video, Wood admits to being there to meet Gemma.

Following the confrontation, police officers flagged down a passing patrol car and arrested Wood. A subsequent search of his flat uncovered a gift bag containing a small-sized thong with love hearts on it, which had been recently purchased. Wood was taken in for questioning, during which he remained silent in both interviews. The police also conducted a search of his residence, revealing the intimate item as evidence of his intent.

Further background information indicated that Wood had previous run-ins with the law, including cautions in 2003 for shoplifting, criminal damage, and common assault, as well as a 2004 caution for possession of class C drugs. He pleaded guilty to attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming at an earlier hearing on January 9.

During sentencing, Wood’s defense attorney highlighted his vulnerabilities, noting that he attended a special needs school and described him as a socially inept individual who lives a reclusive life, rarely leaving his flat except for essentials. The lawyer emphasized that Wood’s maturity level was low and that he lacked the insight to fully comprehend the gravity of his actions. It was also revealed that he has six children, all of whom have been taken into care, adding to the tragic context of his life.

Judge Peter Moss described Wood as a “sad individual” who is “socially inept” and “vulnerable,” and sentenced him to a ten-month prison term suspended for 12 months. He also ordered Wood to pay £300 in prosecution costs and a £140 victim surcharge, which would be deducted from his benefits. Additionally, Wood was subjected to a ten-year sexual harm prevention order, which restricts him from deleting his computer history, using evidence-elimination software, or communicating with children under 16 unless accompanied by an adult aware of the order. Breaching these conditions could result in the activation of his suspended sentence and further legal consequences.