WENDOVER MAN STEVEN READ CAUGHT GROOMING ONLINE CHILDREN IN SHOCKING CASE

In a case that has sent shockwaves through the community of Wendover, Steven Michael Read, aged 27, faced justice at Aylesbury Crown Court after being caught attempting to groom three young girls through online communications. The incident, which unfolded in November 2017, highlighted the dangers of online predators and the importance of vigilant child protection efforts.

Read appeared before the court to admit to three counts of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a minor. The court was informed that he had initiated contact with three girls via the internet, sending them sexually explicit messages in an attempt to exploit them. These messages, which detailed inappropriate and sexual content, were part of the evidence presented during the trial.

Unbeknownst to Read, the girls he contacted were actually members of an online child protection team known as ‘Totnes Justice’. This group specializes in monitoring and catching individuals attempting to exploit minors online. Once the police were alerted to Read’s activities, they swiftly moved to arrest him and launch a thorough investigation into his online behavior.

The chat logs collected during the investigation played a crucial role in establishing his guilt. Read admitted that he believed he was communicating with three girls aged 14, 13, and 13, respectively. His actions, therefore, involved attempts to groom minors for sexual purposes, a serious offense that drew significant legal attention.

In sentencing, the court decided that Read would serve an eight-month prison term, but this sentence was suspended for two years, meaning he would not serve time unless he committed another offense within that period. Additionally, he was ordered to complete 60 days of rehabilitation activities and perform 140 hours of unpaid community work. The court also imposed a 10-year sexual harm prevention order, restricting his contact with minors and requiring him to register as a sex offender, ensuring ongoing monitoring of his activities to protect the community from potential harm.