STENHOUSEMUIR MAN STEVEN PENMAN CAUGHT BY PAEDO HUNTERS AT ASDA AFTER PREDATORY PLOTS

In a disturbing case that highlights the ongoing threat of online predators, Steven Penman, a 52-year-old resident of Stenhousemuir, was apprehended after attempting to meet what he believed was a 13-year-old girl for sexual activity. The incident unfolded at a local Asda supermarket, where Penman had arranged to meet the decoy, who was actually an adult volunteer posing as a schoolgirl named "Jessie".

According to court records, the contact between Penman and the decoy began around June 14 of the previous year. During their online exchanges, Penman repeatedly referred to the decoy as "gorgeous" and expressed his desire to be her boyfriend, despite her insistence that she was only 13 years old. His messages grew increasingly explicit, with Penman sending a photograph of his erect penis to the decoy and explicitly stating his wish to perform oral sex on her. He also encouraged her to perform a sex act on herself, further demonstrating his predatory intent.

The prosecution, led by Mrs. Alex Kirk, detailed how Penman requested a photograph of the decoy, who was in fact an adult posing as a young girl. He asked her about her clothing, specifically whether she wore tights, and inquired if she wanted him to be her boyfriend. His questions also delved into more invasive topics, such as whether she had touched a boy’s private parts, and he asked about her breast size, even requesting to see her in a bra.

Penman’s plans took a further sinister turn when he arranged to meet "Jessie" at the Asda store in Stenhousemuir. However, his intentions were thwarted when members of the paedophile hunting organization "Hope – Hunting Online Predators Everyday" confronted him before he could carry out his plans. The hunters live-streamed the confrontation on Facebook, making it public before alerting the police. Law enforcement officers swiftly responded, arresting Penman at the scene.

During the subsequent court proceedings at Falkirk Sheriff Court, Sheriff William Gilchrist sentenced Penman to a custodial term of 12 months. Additionally, he imposed a two-year extension during which Penman could be recalled to prison if he committed further offenses. The sheriff emphasized the gravity of Penman’s actions, stating, "Arranging to meet someone you believed to be 13 with a view to engaging in unlawful sexual activity is a very serious charge and one which in my view attracts a custodial sentence."

Throughout the hearing, Penman showed no visible emotion as he was led away to the cells, reflecting the seriousness with which the court viewed his predatory behavior and the threat posed to vulnerable minors in the digital age.