RONNIE ARGLE FROM ASHFORD SENTENCED AFTER CAUGHT BY PAEDOPHILE HUNTERS IN KENT

In a case that has drawn significant attention in Kent, Ronnie Argle, a 40-year-old resident of Damara Way in Ashford, was sentenced to prison after being caught in a sting operation conducted by self-styled paedophile hunters. The incident unfolded in February 2018, revealing the dangers posed by online predators and the vigilant efforts of community groups to combat such threats.

Argle, who was unemployed at the time, became the subject of an online investigation when he was contacted by an individual posing as a teenage girl named 'Molly.' The group behind the operation, which included members of a vigilante organization called Redemption, had set a trap after learning that Argle had been communicating with someone they believed to be a minor. The group’s member, Scott Curtis, who described himself as a “self-styled paedophile hunter,” played a central role in the sting.

According to court proceedings at Canterbury Crown Court, the online exchanges between Argle and the fake profile began in April of the previous year. Curtis, using a Facebook account under the alias Molly White, added Argle as a friend after being informed that he was communicating with a 13-year-old girl on social media and had expressed a desire to meet her. Curtis claimed he initiated contact after being told about Argle’s conversations with the supposed minor.

During the chat, Argle responded promptly, claiming that the girl was 14 and lived in Canterbury. He inquired about her parents’ reactions if they knew about their conversations and asked for a photograph. Argle received an image of a young teenager, which he commented on by saying she was beautiful and expressed a wish that she was older. The conversation quickly turned to plans for a meeting, with Argle suggesting they meet in Ashford and exchanging phone numbers. He also asked her to delete the messages to prevent her mother from discovering them.

After approximately two and a half hours of online communication, Argle deleted the contact with 'Molly,' but by then, police had been alerted and were already investigating the case. The authorities acted swiftly to apprehend him, leading to his arrest and subsequent court proceedings.

Further investigations revealed that Argle had also attempted to contact two other girls he believed to be around 12 years old. However, these interactions were part of the vigilante group's operation, as the girls were members of Redemption, a group run by Victoria Curtis. The group had tracked Argle through his links with a pool team based in Dymchurch, Kent.

During the trial, Argle admitted to making three attempts to communicate with minors for sexual gratification. His actions resulted in a 32-week prison sentence. Additionally, he was ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for a period of ten years, marking a significant step in the ongoing efforts to protect children from online predators and hold offenders accountable.