SCOTT COOMBES PLYMOUTH AND TORBAY PAEDOPHILE CAUGHT BY ONLINE HUNTERS AND JAILED

In a series of disturbing incidents spanning several years, Scott Coombes, a 28-year-old man with a troubling history of sexual offenses, has been brought to justice after being caught engaging in illegal online activities and attempting to meet a minor for sexual purposes. His criminal behavior, which includes multiple breaches of court orders and online grooming, has led to his recent incarceration and a lengthy registration on the sex offenders' list.

Coombes, who has been convicted three times prior, was ultimately sentenced to an extended term in prison following his latest conviction. The case unfolded after he was identified and apprehended by a dedicated paedophile hunting group based in Devon, known as UK Database. This volunteer-led organization specializes in online sting operations, where decoys pose as underage girls in chat rooms to catch predators like Coombes.

Between July 28 and August 1 of the previous year, Coombes, then residing in Torbay but formerly of Clifton Place and Savage Road in Plymouth, initiated contact with decoys created by the UK Database team. These decoys used profiles with names such as Kate, Emma, and Sarah-Jane, and recorded the exchanges with Coombes, who believed he was communicating with underage girls. During these chats, Coombes sent highly explicit messages, including images of his genitals, and made clear his desire to engage in sexual activities with the minors he believed he was speaking to.

The predator's intentions culminated in him arranging to meet one of the decoys at Paignton train station. Unbeknownst to him, the UK Database team was monitoring the situation and was prepared to intervene. When Coombes arrived at the designated meeting point, he was swiftly detained after a brief chase. The team handed him over to police, who then seized his computers and mobile phones for forensic examination.

During the search, authorities uncovered evidence that Coombes had been grooming a real schoolgirl for sexual activity. The girl’s parents were promptly informed, and steps were taken to safeguard her from further harm. The police investigation revealed that Coombes had been attempting to establish a sexual relationship with an actual minor, adding to the severity of his offenses.

At Exeter Crown Court, Judge Peter Johnson presided over Coombes’s case via video link from Exeter Prison. The defendant pleaded guilty to six charges, including one count of actual sexual communication with a child, three counts of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a minor, one count of attempting to cause a child to watch a sexual act, and one breach of a Sexual Offending Prevention Order (SOPO).

The court was informed that Coombes had previously been subject to a SOPO issued at Plymouth Crown Court on October 8, 2013, which prohibited any contact with children without approval from parents or social services. Despite this, he had violated the order, which was part of his earlier sentence that included a 15-month suspended term and a requirement to attend sex offender treatment.

In light of his latest offenses, the judge determined that Coombes met the criteria for a dangerous offender under section 226A of the Criminal Justice Act 2003. Consequently, he was sentenced to an extended term of five years, comprising 28 months of immediate imprisonment and an extension period of 2 years and 8 months. Additionally, a five-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order was imposed, and Coombes was informed that he would remain on the Sex Offenders Register for the rest of his life.

These legal actions follow a long history of Coombes’s criminal behavior. In 2014, he faced jail after breaching a suspended sentence by contacting a 13-year-old girl, which was a direct violation of the court’s order. Previously, in 2013, he had posed as a teenage girl online to engage in sexual chats and trade indecent images, leading to a suspended prison sentence and mandatory sex offender treatment.

Throughout his criminal career, Coombes has repeatedly breached court orders and engaged in online grooming, highlighting the importance of vigilant law enforcement and community efforts to protect vulnerable minors from predators like him. His case underscores the ongoing threat posed by online sexual offenders and the necessity for strict legal measures to prevent further harm.