A Warminster Paedophile from Wiltshire, Gary Edge, who was apprehended by vigilante groups targeting child predators has managed to avoid being sentenced to prison.
46-year-old Gary Edge was found guilty of engaging in attempted sexual communication with a minor and trying to expose a minor to a sexual act.
Wiltshire Police received information that the defendant had engaged in conversations with an individual he believed to be a minor girl between March and May of the previous year.
The girl, who was an adult decoy arranged by a group of individuals dedicated to catching paedophiles, explicitly informed Gary Edge that she was only 14 years old. Despite this knowledge, Edge persisted in attempting to initiate a sexual dialogue with her.
The defendant received an eight-month suspended prison sentence at Salisbury Crown Court on Monday, July 3rd.
In addition, he is obligated to adhere to a six-month alcohol treatment mandate, participate in 20 rehabilitation activity days, and make a payment of £156 as a court surcharge.
Gary Edge, residing on Swaledale Road in Warminster, was mandated to enrol as a sex offender for ten years. Additionally, Edge was also placed under a sexual harm prevention order for the same period.
DS Sam Hopkinson from CID stated that he is satisfied with the sentencing of Gary Edge, who has received a substantial sexual harm prevention order and is required to be registered as a sex offender for the next ten years.
Wiltshire Police is fully dedicated to safeguarding children from sexual abuse and individuals who intend to cause them harm.
“Although there were no victims in this particular incident, I would like to seize this moment to urge anyone who has experienced a sexual offence to come forward and communicate with us promptly.”
Our officers, who have received specialised training, will interact with you in a considerate and empathetic manner.
“I strongly encourage anyone who has concerns about a child they know potentially being abused or exploited to report it to us promptly.”
If you or anyone you know have been affected by the people highlighted in this article, then please report those individuals to the Police on 101 (999 if an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details of the options for reporting a crime. You can also make a report at Crimestoppers should you wish to be completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.