July 2021

Man told undercover cop posing as 12-year-old girl they could meet before lockdown ended as ‘not as many people would see them’

An already convicted paedophile told an undercover police officer posing as a 12-year-old girl that they could meet up before lockdown ended as ‘not as many people would see them’.

Craig Prestage, 45, began chatting with the girl known as ‘Becca’ online, where he initially asked what she looked like and sent her ‘kiss’ emojis.

He then suggested they move onto Kik where the conversation turned sexual, Minshull Street Crown Court heard.

Prestage, of Oldham, asked the girl for a nude photograph, then suggested meeting up before lockdown ended.

He said they could do this as ‘not as many people would see them’.

He went on to suggest the girl performed a sexual act on herself and said they ‘wouldn’t need to have sex right away’.

Once he was arrested, officers later found indecent images of children on his mobile phone, along with internet searches suggesting that he’d attempted to wipe his web history.

Prestage pleaded guilty to offences of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity and making indecent photos.

He was today (July 5) jailed for seven years and three months.

Prosecutor David Lees told the court that on March 9 this year, Prestage began chatting with a 12-year-old known as ‘Becca’ over the website ‘ChatAvenue’ using the moniker ‘Fun13’.

What he didn’t realise was that ‘Becca’ was a police officer acting undercover.

“The website requires users to confirm they are between 13 and 19,” Mr Lees said.

“He stated from the outset that he was 45 and from Manchester and asked ‘Becca’ a few questions about herself, and she stated she was 12.

“He sent messages containing the ‘kisses’ emoji and ‘big kiss’ and said they could be friends.

“He gave a description of himself and asked what she looked like and said he would like to see her if he could.”

Prestage went on to ask for the girl’s email address and asked her to send him a picture of herself before suggesting they move the conversation onto Kik.

Using the username ‘CraigPres’ he continued speaking with the girl, the court heard.

He sent her a picture of himself in a leather chair, which was later discovered when he was arrested.

‘Becca’ sent Prestage a photo, later found to be a stock photo, to which he told her it was ‘really cute’ and said: “If I was your age I’d like to have you as my gf”.

“He said he was too old for her, then asked if she had done anything with a boy, the suggestion of sexual activity,” Mr Lees continued.

“When told what that was, he said: “Would you want to do that with me,” then suggested they should meet up once lockdown was over.

“He also asked: “If you don’t mind me asking, do you have a nude photograph?”

The prosecutor added that Prestage asked the girl to perform a sexual activity on herself, then suggested meeting up just before lockdown ended as ‘not as many people would see them’.

He also said that they ‘wouldn’t have to have sex right away’.

On March 19 Prestage was arrested and interviewed by officers, but gave ‘no comment’ replies.

Following analysis of his mobile phone they found one category B image and eight category C images as well as internet searches suggesting that he had tried to wipe his web history.

Prestage was said to have eight previous convictions for 35 offences including attempting to incite a girl under 16 to engage in sexual activity and making indecent photos in 2014 for which he was handed a four-and-a-half year prison sentence.

July 2021

Pervert caught saying he wanted to have sex with 12-year-old girl for £100

A pervert caught in a police sting discussing how he wanted to have sex with a 12-year-old girl claimed he was actually working as a paedophile hunter.

John Stone, 42, thought he was chatting online with a father, who was willing to ‘take turns’ having sex with his daughter in exchange for £100.

But Stone, from Salford, was actually speaking with an undercover officer who was posing as the dad in the disturbing chats.

Stone had responded to a message the officer posted on a chat room website, which has since been taken down from the internet, which read: “Any UK families up to meet me and daughter for fun?”

After being told the man was from the Midlands, Stone responded: “Do you ever come to Manchester, if so how old is your daughter and how much to play?”

They discussed ‘taking turns’ having sex with her, and Stone was told he should pay for a hotel room and pay the dad £100.

Stone asked: “Will she be willing to do this with a stranger? I don’t like the idea of force.”

He later said: “This would be my first time doing this, heart is racing.”

A meeting never happened, and Stone was later tracked down by police and arrested.

When police analysed his computer they also found 19 indecent images of children, as well as an extreme pornographic image.

During his interview with officers, Stone claimed he’d been acting as a paedophile hunter, and had been speaking to people to try and identify them.

But he accepted he’d not asked any questions to help identify the other person, and had made no reports.

Manchester Crown Court heard the chats lasted over a few days in August 2017.

The conversations stopped for months after the officer was ‘taken off deployment’ due to being on sick leave.

Stone had messaged the officer saying ‘guess this isn’t going to happen’, prosecutor Helen Longworth said.

The officer logged back in to the chat nearly a year later, and Stone was arrested in August 2019 after ‘technical enquiries’ were made.

He was charged last year after his computer had been interrogated.

The judge, Recorder Ben Douglas-Jones QC, said a suspended sentence would be a ‘significant punishment’.

It would help to rehabilitate Stone and ‘better protect the public’, he said.

Stone, of Church Street, Eccles, was sentenced to two years in prison, suspended for two years.

He was ordered to complete 30 rehabilitation activity requirement days, and observe a curfew from 7pm to 6am for six months.

A sexual harm prevention order was also passed, to last seven years.