ROGER LEE AND SHOCKING CRIME IN WILTSHIRE AND NEWCASTLE
A man with a troubling criminal history, Roger Lee, has been placed behind bars following his attempt to meet a minor in Newcastle.Lee, who has previously been convicted of having sex with a 12-year-old girl and getting her pregnant in 1998, was caught in a sting operation set up by online vigilantes known as 'Dark Justice'.
The offender, 45 years old and residing on Pewsey Road in Rushall, Pewsey, Wiltshire, believed he was engaged in a conversation with a teenage girl named Rebecca over the internet.
In truth, he was talking to two individuals operating undercover to catch predators, which ultimately led to his arrest.
Lee had been communicating with the undercover operatives on Badoo, a platform intended for users over 18, under the alias 'ForHire'.
According to evidence presented in Newcastle Crown Court, Lee was engaging in sexually explicit conversations with what he believed was a 14-year-old girl.
Over several days, he sent explicit images, including a nude photograph of himself, and expressed a desire to meet the girl after she claimed her mother was leaving her alone home.
Lee's eagerness to travel over 300 miles from Basingstoke to Newcastle was driven by this false narrative, with the intent of engaging in sexual activity.
On the day of the planned meeting, Lee arranged to meet what he thought was Rebecca at the Millennium Bridge in Newcastle at 9 am on October 9.
His plans unraveled quickly when the vigilantes confronted him at the designated location.
The duo, recording the incident, made their presence known, which visibly shocked Lee.
Recognising that he had been caught, Lee fled the scene but was quickly pursued and apprehended by the police.
Following his flight, Lee sent a threatening message indicating he intended to take his own life.
He was later discovered on the A1 heading southbound, where he was arrested by law enforcement officers.
During the court proceedings, prosecutors outlined the extent of Lee's criminal motivations and behavior.
Deputy Crown Prosecutor Tim Gittins emphasized that the men involved in the operation posed as adult women on the platform, which was not meant exclusively for over 18s, but Lee initiated contact with a profile that claimed to be 14.
Gittins revealed that Lee had openly expressed a preference for young girls and disclosed a previous relationship with a 12-year-old girl.
The messages between Lee and the undercover agents grew increasingly sexual, with the defendant even sending explicit photographs of himself.
Judge Sean Morris addressed the court, underscoring the severity of Lee's intentions.
He stated, "You entered into a conversation with them on the internet and they pretended the female was 14 and you went for it.
You arranged to come to Newcastle from Basingstoke to have sexual intercourse with a 14-year-old child.
That is extremely serious." The judge also pointed out that in reality, no child was involved, which slightly limited the categorization of the offense, but reaffirmed that Lee remains a danger to young children.
In addition to his custodial sentence of two years and four months, Lee was subjected to further restrictions.
The court imposed an extended license condition until 2020, a sexual offences prevention order, and a requirement to sign the sex offender registry indefinitely.
These measures are aimed at preventing future offenses and monitoring his conduct.
The court heard from Lee's legal representative, Andrew Walker, who argued that this was a sting operation and not a case of entrapment.
He emphasized that the platform used was meant for adults and was not specifically a dating site, suggesting that Lee's actions were not predicated on a real minor being involved.
Nonetheless, the court recognized the dangerous nature of Lee's behavior and his history of offending, which underscores the necessity of strict sentencing and supervision.
