TERRY TAYLOR FROM BRADWORTHY CAUGHT IN PAEDOPHILE HUNT NEAR HOLSWORTHY AND KENT

In a case that has shocked the local community, Terry Taylor, a 56-year-old former jockey from Bradworthy near Holsworthy, narrowly avoided a prison sentence after being caught in a sting operation conducted by paedophile hunters. The incident, which took place in December 2019, revealed disturbing attempts by Taylor to engage with a supposed underage girl through social media.

Taylor initially made contact with what he believed was a 13-year-old girl named Katie, using Facebook’s ‘find a friend’ feature to locate her profile. Unbeknownst to him, the profile was created by a dedicated paedophile hunting team aiming to catch individuals seeking to exploit minors. Despite the deception, Taylor disclosed his personal details, including his name, age, and address, during their exchanges.

Over the course of several weeks, Taylor’s messages grew increasingly explicit. He expressed a desire to kiss the girl and, on December 28, 2019, conveyed feelings of arousal and made more explicit suggestions. His intent was clear: he arranged to meet her in Bromley, Kent, where she claimed to reside. To facilitate the meeting, Taylor booked train tickets and reserved a hotel room for three nights. However, before he could carry out his plans, he realized the gravity of his actions and canceled the trip, avoiding what could have been a serious criminal offense.

Following the investigation, Taylor was brought before Exeter Crown Court, where he pleaded guilty to attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity. The court heard that Taylor’s actions posed a significant risk to the safety and well-being of minors. Judge Timothy Rose sentenced him to two years in prison, but the sentence was suspended for two years, meaning Taylor would not serve time unless he committed further offenses within that period.

In addition to the suspended sentence, Taylor was ordered to participate in 20 days of rehabilitation activities aimed at addressing his behavior. He was also placed on the sex offenders’ register, a legal requirement for individuals convicted of such offenses. The court was informed that Taylor’s circumstances, including his partial disability and the potential loss of his specially adapted housing association home, influenced the decision to suspend the prison term.

Prosecutor Mr. Joss Ticehurst outlined the details of the case, emphasizing the seriousness of Taylor’s attempts to contact and exploit a minor. The case serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing efforts by law enforcement and community groups to combat online exploitation and protect vulnerable children from predators.