Bridlington Man Jailed for Attempting to Meet Underage Boy for Sex

A 45-year-old man named Stephen Verrill, residing on Quay Road in Bridlington, was sentenced to three years in jail after attempting to meet a boy for sex. Verrill believed he was communicating with a 14-year-old boy and sent sexually explicit messages and pictures to what he thought was a minor. However, he was actually messaging a decoy operated by police. The incident occurred when Verrill arranged to meet the alleged minor at a train station on 12 May. Verrill pleaded guilty to charges including attempting to meet a boy under 16 following grooming, attempting to incite a boy under 16 to engage in a sexual act, and attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child. Det Con Bethany Barker from Humberside Police described Verrill as a "perverted predator" and expressed relief that he was now behind bars. Verrill was placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely, was given a sexual harm prevention order, and his laptop was destroyed.