HULLBRIDGE MAN WHO SENT SEXUAL MESSAGES TO 'CHILD' SENTENCED
A man from Hullbridge has been added to the sex offenders register following an attempt to initiate sexual communication with someone he believed to be a 12-year-old girl, who was in fact an undercover police officer.Stephen Hulse, aged 52 and residing on Waxwell Road, appeared before Basildon Crown Court on July 22 after admitting the charges.
He was also sentenced to a five-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
The court was informed that the incident occurred in June 2025, when Hulse engaged in an online chat with the officer, under the mistaken belief she was a minor.
Despite being informed she was only 12, he persisted with the conversation and tried to engage in sexual dialogue.
Hulse was detained on June 20, 2025, after police traced his online activity back to his home.
During a police interview, he confessed to the offence.
Authorities also confiscated 19 digital devices from his residence.
Essex Police's DC Red Leeson highlighted their ongoing efforts to combat online child exploitation and assured that they would continue to pursue individuals who target minors online.
