SIMON BRIGHT SENTENCED FOR ONLINE SEX OFFENSES IN WARRINGTON

A 50-year-old man named Simon Bright has been sentenced to prison after being convicted of engaging in depraved online sexual communications with someone he mistakenly believed to be a child. The incident took place in Warrington, where Bright was caught attempting to illicitly interact with a minor through online chat platforms.

Bright believed he was communicating with a 12-year-old girl, but in reality, he was chatting with an adult operating a decoy profile designed to catch predators. His disturbing exchanges included explicit discussions where he expressed his desire to be her boyfriend and even stated he wanted to take a shower with her. The sequence of events highlights a calculated effort on his part to establish a sexual relationship under false pretenses.

The offender’s activities spanned four days, from August 25 to August 28 of the previous year. During this period, Bright engaged in sexually explicit conversations, which were outlined in court by prosecutor Max Saffman during proceedings at Chester Crown Court on Tuesday, July 25. The prosecution detailed how Bright repeatedly asked the decoy if she had a boyfriend, how he hoped to be her boyfriend, and expressed a desire to meet her in a sexual context.

Additionally, Bright requested photographs from the decoy, inquired if she fancied him, and asked her to engage in sexual talk. One of the more disturbing aspects of his communications involved encouraging the decoy to perform a sexual act on herself and to take photographs of her doing so, with the intent of sending those images to him.

Facing charges of attempting to engage in sexual communications with a child and attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity, Bright admitted guilt through a plea of guilty to both offences. His defense and subsequent conviction led to a court sentence that aims to punish his misconduct and protect potential victims.

Judge Simon Berkson sentenced Bright to 28 months in prison. Moreover, he imposed strict conditions designed to monitor and prevent reoffending, including placing Bright on sex offender registration and notification requirements for a decade. A sexual harm prevention order was also issued, lasting ten years, to safeguard the community.

As part of the legal process, the police also seized Bright’s mobile phone, which was subsequently confiscated and ordered for destruction, removing any potential evidence and preventing further misuse of the device. Bright, who resides on Poplars Avenue in Orford, will now serve time behind bars for his deliberate attempts to exploit a minor online, a case illustrating the ongoing efforts of authorities to combat online child exploitation in Warrington and beyond.