April 2021 ‘Manipulative’ man rumbled after trying to have sex with girl 12 – who was undercover cop An undercover police officer, posing as a vulnerable 12-year-old girl, was sent a series of messages by a “manipulative” Birmingham man who was trying to get her to have sex with him. Roy Edwards, who pretended to be a teenager, messaged the ‘girl’ for 10 weeks sending intimate pictures of himself and demanding she send him photos. Edwards, 34, of Welsh House Farm Road, Quinton, who had previously been convicted of attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity, attempting to cause a child to look at images of sexual activity and possessing indecent images, was jailed for five years and four months. Judge Paul Farrer QC also extended the time he will remain on license after his release from prison by three years because he presented a “significant risk of causing serious harm.” Edwards started the online conversation on November 30 2017, telling the ‘girl’ that he was 18 when in fact he was 30. She told the defendant she was a 12-year-old virgin and he replied by asking her if she wanted sex and if she wanted to see an intimate picture of himself. He asked that she send pictures of herself including a photo of her breasts. In passing sentence at Birmingham Crown Court Judge Farrer said: “You undoubtedly believed you were communicating with a 12-year-old girl when in fact you were messaging an undercover police officer. “Following that you communicated with the officer on many occasions over the next 10 weeks. “This communication involved both messages and phone calls in which you used grooming behaviour and expressed a desire to have sex with her. “In the early stages, the officer said that her relationship with her mother was strained and that she was living with foster parents and so you believed you were communicating with a troubled and vulnerable child. “In those circumstances, you repeatedly spoke about travelling to Cardiff and having sex with her in a hotel. “You repeatedly asked for photos. When she expressed reluctance you sought to manipulate her.” The judge said Edwards had sent another intimate photo of himself as well as an image of adults engaging in sexual activity. Throughout the communication the defendant was careful in hiding his identity, using a false name and claiming he lived in Manchester. Judge Farrer said there had been significant planning and that when the defendant’s phone was seized police found eight indecent images of children, including one category A picture. He said his previous not guilty plea had shown a lack of remorse. He said: “These types of offences commonly involve people who are unsophisticated and socially isolated. “Your presentation at the trial leads me to conclude that you are sophisticated, determined and manipulative,” the judge said.