A Wigston Paedophile sex offender, Neil Spencer, manipulated a 14-year-old youngster and coordinated a meeting at Subway in Beeston for sexual intercourse. Nottingham Crown Court was informed that Neil Spencer advised the adolescent, “it may be painful if it is your first experience,” during their online conversation. Upon the defendant’s arrival at the meeting point, he was approached not by ‘Josh,’ but by a collective of self-proclaimed paedophile hunters. The 45-year-old is experiencing custody for the first time in his life.
Judge Michael Auty KC sentenced him to two years in prison, stating: “A group of individuals, informally referred to as ‘paedophile hunters,’ was attempting to entrap those with a sexual interest in children, and you fell victim to their scheme.” The truth was that there was no actual child, but you were unaware of this fact.
“A persona called ‘Josh’ was created but in stark contrast to many conversations I have seen in these courts, there was no pressure from you on ‘Josh’ to participate in any sexual activity initially. But the conversation then turned sexual with discussion about potential pain (he might feel).
“What makes the offence more serious is that you attenuated to meet ‘Josh’ and that demonstrates a potential risk that this court can’t overlook. There can be no more sacred duty of the court than to protect the interests of children.
“And when you say in your pre-sentence report you did not have a sexual interest in children that raises with me the very real risk you are not accepting the person you truly are.”
Tony Stanford, prosecuting, said a group called Stop UK created a fictional 14-year-old called Josh on social media in early 2024. He said Neil Spencer made contact with the profile and they initially began talking innocently online for a while.
The prosecutor said the conversation then turned sexual, starting with chats about hugging and kissing and then moving on to full sex. Mr Stanford said: “Josh said ‘I have never done it before, will it hurt’ and the defendant replied ‘it might do if it’s the first time’.
“They then arranged to meet at Subway in Beeston, on April 2, and that is when he was intercepted by the group and the police were called.”
Neil Spencer, of Falmouth Drive, Wigston, Leicester, pleaded guilty to attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and attempting to meet a boy under the age of 16 following sexual grooming. He has no previous convictions.
Will Bennett, mitigating, said his client became “lonely and isolated” following the break-up of a 14-year relationship in which his then-partner stopped him from seeing friends. He said: “He lost his employment as a result of this but he knows this is a catastrophe he has brought on himself. I asked him ‘why did you travel with sex on your mind to meet someone of this age?’ and he said ‘I have no answer for that’.
“I anticipate he is one of those sex offenders, and that is what he is by his conviction, that is unlikely to trouble the courts.”
As well as the jail term, the judge handed the defendant, Neil Spencer, a 10-year sexual harm prevention order and placed him on the sex offender register for 10 years.
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