ROBERT CATLIN FROM BEMBRIDGE ESCAPES JAIL AFTER GROOMING PLOT ON ISLE OF WIGHT

In a case that has shocked the local community of Bembridge and the wider Isle of Wight, 38-year-old Robert Catlin was found guilty of attempting to engage in sexual activities with a minor after a series of disturbing online communications. The incident, which took place in June 2017, involved Catlin messaging what he believed to be a 14-year-old girl named 'Faye,' who was actually a paedophile hunter operating undercover to catch predators.

According to court records, Catlin had been exchanging messages with 'Faye' over a period of 19 days. During this time, he sent numerous messages that included requests for explicit photographs, shared images of himself, and used sexually explicit language. The messages also contained attempts to establish a romantic relationship, with Catlin asking if she wanted him to be her boyfriend. He instructed her to keep their communications secret, raising further concerns about his intentions.

The court heard that 'Faye' had consistently maintained that she was only 14 and still attending school, which was confirmed by the messaging exchanges. The paedophile hunter, after noticing that Catlin failed to show up for an arranged meeting in Portsmouth, alerted the police. This proactive step led to the investigation and subsequent charges against Catlin.

During the proceedings, Ms. Elizabeth Bussey-Jones, representing Catlin, described the nature of the conversations as 'extremely childish,' filled with 'love you' messages and heart emojis. She also highlighted a psychiatric report indicating that Catlin was functioning at the mental level of a nine to twelve-year-old, which she argued mitigated some of the criminality involved.

Ms. Bussey-Jones explained that Catlin had attended a specialist school during his youth and continued to live with his parents. She emphasized that he had limited sexual experience, having had only one previous relationship in his life, and suggested that his low level of social and emotional development contributed to his actions.

Judge Hill, presiding over the case, acknowledged the seriousness of the offense but also considered the defendant's mental state. He stated, 'You knew what you were doing and you know it was wrong. You went as far as you could before you decided not to go through with the meeting.'

As a result, Robert Catlin was sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for one year. Additionally, he will be registered on the sex offenders register indefinitely, reflecting the gravity of his actions and the potential risk to the community of Bembridge and beyond.