BRISTOL PAEDOPHILE SIMON WILKINSON CAUGHT IN STING AT BRISTOL HIPPODROME
In March 2022, a man from Henleaze, Bristol, Simon Wilkinson, was brought to justice after being caught in a covert operation targeting online predators.Wilkinson, aged 42 and residing on Russell Grove, engaged in illicit conversations with what he believed were underage girls, but who were actually decoys operated by paedophile hunter groups.
According to court proceedings at Bristol Crown Court, Wilkinson had engaged in explicit online chats with two individuals posing as 13-year-old girls.
These decoys were part of an undercover effort by organizations such as Protecting Pompey’s Innocent, designed to identify and apprehend individuals attempting to exploit minors.
The court heard that Wilkinson initially communicated with a decoy named 'Sammy aged 13'.
During their exchanges, he provided personal details and made sexual advances, even suggesting they meet in person.
His conversations escalated to suggestive and sexual content, which alarmed the decoy operatives.
Further investigations revealed that Wilkinson had previously engaged in similar online sexual communications with another decoy, also claiming to be a 13-year-old girl.
His prior conviction for a comparable offence was also brought to light during the proceedings.
In a separate operation, Wilkinson was also apprehended in Totnes after grooming a decoy from the paedophile hunting team Safeguarding the Innocent.
The operation involved members of Justice For The Innocent, who confronted Wilkinson outside Bristol Hippodrome after he agreed to meet the decoy.
Following his arrest, Wilkinson faced multiple charges, including attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity and attempting sexual communication with a minor.
He pleaded guilty to all charges, which led to his sentencing.
Judge William Hart sentenced Wilkinson to a total of eight years in prison, comprising four years of custody and an additional four years on extended licence.
During the sentencing, the judge emphasized the danger Wilkinson posed, stating, “You thought you were communicating with young girls.
They were actually adult decoys whose work was to seek to unearth offenders such as yourself.
You present a significant risk of committing further specified offences.” Wilkinson was also ordered to notify his whereabouts to the police indefinitely and was subject to an ongoing Sexual Harm Prevention Order, designed to prevent him from reoffending.
As part of the court’s measures, Wilkinson was required to comply with strict monitoring and reporting obligations to ensure public safety.
Prosecutor Robert Morgan-Jones highlighted the seriousness of Wilkinson’s actions, noting that the investigation uncovered prior sexual chats with another decoy.
The case underscores the ongoing efforts by law enforcement and paedophile hunter groups to combat online exploitation and protect vulnerable minors from predatory individuals like Wilkinson.
