ROGER SLADE FROM ST AUSTELL CAUGHT TRYING TO MEET 13-YEAR-OLD GIRL IN FOSTER CARE IN TRURO

In November 2020, a disturbing case emerged involving Roger Slade, a 45-year-old man from Truro Road in St Austell, who was apprehended after attempting to meet what he believed was a 13-year-old girl in foster care. The incident was uncovered by dedicated paedophile hunters who had set up a sting operation to catch individuals seeking to exploit minors.

Slade’s actions came to light when a member of the vigilant hunting team known as 'Totnes Justice' created a fake Facebook profile, pretending to be a vulnerable 13-year-old girl in foster care. The team’s goal was to identify and apprehend predators attempting to contact minors online. In February of the previous year, Slade, who was homeless at the time, initiated contact with this fake account, sending a message that read “nice” and asking, “how old are you?”

When the fake girl responded that she was 13, Slade continued the conversation, requesting a photograph of her and expressing a desire to keep the messages private by deleting them. The chat quickly turned sexualized, with Slade asking invasive questions about her genitalia and sending a disturbing image of his own penis. He also asked her to send pictures of her vagina, further demonstrating his intent to engage in illegal sexual activity with a minor.

Throughout the exchange, Slade discussed the possibility of meeting in person, asking if they could kiss and suggesting that they could have sex. The predator’s intentions became clear as he expressed a willingness to meet, despite claiming he wanted to “play it safe” and warning that it might hurt. His words and actions indicated a clear desire to carry out a sexual encounter with the underage girl.

Eventually, Slade made arrangements to meet the girl in person. However, he was confronted by members of the paedophile hunting teams, 'Totnes Justice' and 'UK Database,' who had been monitoring his online activity. He waited calmly with the hunters until police arrived, at which point he was arrested on suspicion of attempting to meet a child for sexual purposes.

Following his arrest, Slade appeared at Truro Crown Court to face sentencing. He pleaded guilty to charges of attempting to cause or incite a child to engage in sexual activity and attempting to meet a girl under 16 following grooming. Prosecutor Holly Rust detailed the extent of his misconduct, emphasizing the premeditated nature of his actions and the sexualized content exchanged during the online conversations.

Judge Simon Carr presided over the case and delivered the sentence. He highlighted that the entire operation was a setup by members of the public who created the fake Facebook account to protect minors from predators like Slade. The judge pointed out that Slade was aware of the girl’s age and continued to communicate with her, encouraging her to send explicit images and sending a photograph of his own genitals. Despite claiming he intended to “play it safe,” the judge noted that his words and actions clearly indicated a desire to have sex with a minor.

In mitigation, Judge Carr acknowledged certain factors in Slade’s background but emphasized that a suspended sentence would allow him to undergo treatment for his perversions. The judge warned that Slade should not hide behind his alcoholism and that any future offenses would likely result in a lengthy prison term.

As a result, Slade was sentenced to two years in prison, suspended for two years. Additionally, he was ordered to complete a rehabilitation activity requirement and participate in an alcohol treatment program. The court’s decision underscores the seriousness of his crimes and the importance of ongoing treatment to prevent further offending.