Man seeking child abuse caught in online operation

Adrian Parker will be sentenced at Swindon Crown Court in December

A man who attempted to arrange to abuse two young children with a woman online was really talking to an undercover police officer, a court has heard.

Adrian Parker of Cameron Close, Stratton St Margaret, pleaded guilty to two counts of arranging/facilitating the commission of a child sex offence at Swindon Crown Court.

Parker, who believed he was arranging to carry out sexual activity on a six-year-old and four-month-old, was described as a "significant risk to children".

He has been remanded in prison and is due to be sentenced on 4 December.

'Significant risk to children'

Parker had gone to the lengths of buying a Barbie toy car as a gift for the six-year-old, which officers located when he was arrested.

Investigator Beccy Scott of the Child Internet Exploitation Team (CIET) said she welcomed Parker's guilty plea as he "poses a significant risk to children".

"I have no doubt that Parker had every intention to carry out these depraved crimes against vulnerable children," she said.

"Here is a man with a clear sexual preoccupation with pre-pubescent children who has purposefully used the internet to seek out children or adults with access to children."

"If you are concerned about your own use of the internet or inappropriate thoughts or behaviour about children please seek help from support agencies such as the Lucy Faithful Foundation before you become our next knock at the door."

Det Supt Becky Tadd, from the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit (SWROCU), said: "We’re grateful to our colleagues at Wiltshire Police for progressing the investigation into Parker's abhorrent activities.

"This was an excellent joint operation against a highly dangerous sexual predator."

Wiltshire Police has encouraged those who think an individual may be exploiting children, or think they know someone who has been a victim, to call 101, or visit its "how to report possible child abuse" page.