June 2018 Wallington man walks free from court after encouraging child to touch herself sexually A 37-year-old Wallington man has walked free from court after admitting trying to get a child to touch herself sexually. Terry Tanner, of Hurricane Road, pleaded guilty to attempting to engage a child in sexual communication, when he previously appeared in court on May 8. He was sentenced on Tuesday (May 29) at Croydon Magistrates’ Court and given a 26-week prison sentence, suspended for two years, meaning he will not face any time in jail. The court heard that between December 18, 2017 and April 10, 2018 Tanner attempted to speak to a girl under the age of 16 in a sexual manner for the purpose of sexual gratification. It was also made clear that Tanner had no reason to believe the girl was over the age of 16 when the offence took place. The court heard that during his conversations with the girl, Tanner made attempts to get the girl to touch herself in a sexual way for his own gratification. As part of his sentence he was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge and was placed on the Sex Offenders Register for five years. A sexual harm prevention order was also put in place.