ROSS WESGATE FROM NEWPORT CAUGHT IN UNDERCOVER POLICE OPERATION AFTER PREDATORY PLOT WITH 12-YEAR-OLD BOY
In a disturbing case that has shocked the Newport community, Ross Wesgate, a 40-year-old man from Tom Mann Close in Newport, found himself at the center of a police sting operation aimed at tackling online child exploitation.Wesgate had expressed a disturbing desire to fulfill an 'erotic dream' involving a 12-year-old boy, a plan that was ultimately thwarted by undercover law enforcement officers.
According to court proceedings, Wesgate initiated contact with what he believed was a young boy named James through social media platforms, specifically Facebook and Snapchat.
His messages revealed a clear intent to meet for sexual activity, as he encouraged the boy to skip school and meet him in a hotel room.
The defendant's communications included explicit comments and discussions about their supposed meeting, with Wesgate suggesting that James could come to his house or be picked up by car.
The police had set up an undercover operation, and it was during this investigation that Wesgate was arrested in April after he continued to communicate with the undercover officer posing as the child.
Prosecutor Owen Williams detailed that within just two days of initial contact, Wesgate had escalated the conversation to include sexual comments and explicit discussions about their meeting, revealing his intentions to carry out the disturbing plan.
Wesgate appeared before Newport Crown Court, where he pleaded guilty to attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child.
The court was informed that he had a criminal history, including two previous convictions for seven offences, which ranged from theft and making off without payment to making false representations.
Additionally, he holds a caution for child abduction, further highlighting his troubling criminal background.
The presiding judge, Recorder Carl Harrison, addressed Wesgate directly, emphasizing the gravity of his actions.
He stated, “You were engaged in sexual communication with someone you thought was called James who was 12 years old.
You first communicated through Facebook and later through Snapchat.
You were in fact in communication with an undercover online operative.” Recorder Harrison further explained that within a short span of two days, Wesgate had made explicit comments, including discussing a sexual encounter and expressing a desire to end the encounter by making love to the boy.
The judge noted the disturbing nature of the conversations, which included discussions about a supposed erotic dream and plans to carry it out.
Despite the severity of his actions, Wesgate was spared immediate imprisonment.
Instead, he was sentenced to a three-year community order.
As part of his sentence, he is required to complete 240 hours of unpaid work, attend 35 sessions of the Horizon sex offender programme, and undertake a 30-day rehabilitation activity requirement.
Furthermore, Wesgate will be registered as a sex offender for five years and is subject to a sexual harm prevention order for the same period.
He was also ordered to pay £740 in prosecution costs and a £95 victim surcharge, underscoring the court’s condemnation of his predatory behavior.
