DEFENDANT ADMITS SEXUAL COMMUNICATION WITH ‘CHILD’ AFTER PAEDOPHILE HUNTER STING

DEFENDANT ADMITS SEXUAL COMMUNICATION WITH ‘CHILD’ AFTER PAEDOPHILE HUNTER STING

At Belfast Crown Court on Tuesday, defense attorney Michael Boyd requested that 46-year-old Salman Mehoi Rizvi be reissued a charge hearing for one of the two counts against him.

While in the defendant's box, Rizvi pleaded guilty to attempting sexual communication with a minor between November 3 and 19 of the previous year, expressly for the purpose of sexual gratification.

The details of the offence reveal that Rizvi tried to contact a person under 16, with the communication being sexual or meant to encourage a sexual response, without reasonably believing that the individual was 16 or older.

The court did not disclose additional background facts, but it is believed the case originated from an undercover operation by a local paedophile-hunting group.

After Rizvi entered his guilty plea on Tuesday, defense counsel Boyd clarified that the defendant still maintains a not guilty plea regarding the second charge, which alleges an attempt to meet a child following sexual grooming.

The barrister indicated that the trial is expected to last only around two days, though it could potentially conclude in one day.

Rizvi, whose address is noted as Shore Road in North Belfast, has been released on bail.

Judge Sandra Crawford scheduled the trial for 15 October, with a case review set for 17 September.