Paedophile snared by activist group is jailed

Grant Brownlow was ordered to sign the sex offenders register for life

A paedophile who was caught by an activist group has been jailed.

Police said Grant Brownlow thought he was speaking to a 14-year-old girl online when he engaged them in sexual conversation.

The 36-year-old of Bronze Street, March, was jailed for four years and six months.

"Brownlow was clearly told by the group he was talking to a 14-year-old girl," said DC Caroline Murphy, from Cambridgeshire Police.

"There was clear intent there to commit a sexual offence so young people will be safer with him behind bars."

The force said he began speaking to the so-called decoy from the child activist group in October 2020.

They did not speak after the December but started again in July 2021.

Police said the activist group confronted Brownlow at his home in November that year.

A search of his devices uncovered five extreme images involving animals, detectives said.

He was found guilty of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity.

Brownlow was ordered to sign the sex offenders register for life and handed an indefinite sexual harm prevention order.