Paedophile jailed after posing as teenagers online

Gould has been jailed for 18 months

A man who attempted to engage in sexual activity with a child whilst posing as a pair of teenage siblings in a chatroom, has been jailed for 18 months.

Danny Gould, 27, of Whitehead Street, Swindon was sentenced at Swindon Crown Court on Friday.

His offences relate to social media conversations between 2 April and 9 May, when Gould talked to a person believed to be 14 years-old, which were sexual in nature, police said.

Detective Constable Sarah Greenman from Wiltshire Police said it is "fortunate" the victim was a decoy, but Gould's "intentions were clear".

Gould, who was already on the Sex Offender’s register, was charged with failing to comply with the registration requirements, attempting to engage in sexual communications with a child and attempting to cause a child to engage in sexual activity.

He was also made subject to an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order indefinitely.

Det Con Greenman said Gould "sought to obtain sexual gratification".

"It is fortunate that the victim in this case was in fact a decoy, but this doesn’t make Gould’s offending any less serious, his intentions were clear," she said.

'Influenced and misled'

"Gould admitted to posing as a pair of teenage siblings, embedding himself into a teen based chatroom in order to afford himself access to one of the most vulnerable groups in our society – teenagers, who are often easily influenced and misled.

"I’d ask any parent reading this – don’t shy away from learning more about what your children are doing online.

"Ask about the apps and social media they are using and be more in the know to keep them safe online," she explained.