Lincoln RAF veteran caught in online child sex abuse sting operation

Hughes was arrested after the attempted meeting at Doddington Hall in November 2020

An RAF veteran caught trying to meet a 14-year-old girl for sex in an online sting operation has been given a suspended sentence.

Andrew Hughes, 57, was arrested when he travelled to meet the "girl" at Doddington Hall in November 2020.

However, on arrival Lincoln Crown Court heard he was confronted by members of an online group who called police.

Hughes of Larne Road, Lincoln, was sentenced to 14 months in prison suspended for two years.

David Eager, prosecuting, told the court Hughes sent a message on 1 October 2020 to a decoy profile set up by the group which read "cute".

"Chat then followed," Mr Eager told the court. "It rapidly became sexual in nature."

"He makes graphic conversation about full sexual intercourse with her."

The court heard Hughes also sent an indecent photograph of himself to the profile and then arranged to meet the girl at Doddington Hall.

"Obviously he is not met by a 14-year-old girl", Mr Eager added.

The defendant also sent a second picture of himself to another decoy account, the court was told.

Hughes, who had no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to two charges of attempted adult sexual communication with a child and one charge of attempted adult meeting with a child following grooming.

The court heard Hughes was discharged from the RAF in 2007, and had lost his recent employment with Royal Mail after details of his arrest were posted online.

Passing sentence, Judge Catarina Sjolin Knight said she was satisfied Hughes had gone to Doddington Hall for the purpose of sex.

"You turned up as arranged, and must have been shocked and surprised to be met by adults," she said.

"This was a sting operation."

However, the judge said there were significant mitigating factors including Hughes' obvious shame, his previous good character and the delay in his case.

"You pose a very realistic prospect of rehabilitation, and thank goodness there was no real child," she added.

In addition to his sentence, Hughes was placed on an electronic tag for four months, made the subject a sexual harm prevention order and placed on the sex offenders register for 10 years.