Peter Cumberland, the Blackburn Paedophile, an individual with deviant sexual tendencies, under the mistaken belief that he was engaging in conversation with a 14-year-old male over Facebook Messenger, made plans to meet the minor at Blackburn train station to engage in sexual activity and facilitate his transition into adulthood.
Peter Cumberland, residing at Bonsall Street, Blackburn, established a Facebook profile in July 2021 and engaged in an e-communication with an individual he believed was a 14-year-old boy, unaware that it was a decoy.
During the trial at Preston Crown Court, Lisa Worsley, the prosecutor, stated that the individual referred to as the ‘kid’ was an adult decoy working for a group known as ‘Travelling from Nottingham’ or ‘TFN’. This group specialises in engaging in conversations with individuals suspected of being paedophiles. The decoy employs language typical of a 14-year-old and mentions his parents to create a convincing persona.
“On July 22, 2021, the decoy received a message from Cumberland asking for his school shoes, trainers and dick.
“The decoy said he was 14 and was still in school, to which Cumberland replied, ‘Show me your trainers’ and asked for some photos.
“The decoy commented he thought what Peter Cumberland was saying was strange and asked him ‘do I know you?’.
“The defendant replied ‘no why?’, with the decoy saying ‘no reason, you could be anyone, and I’m not sending pictures to someone I haven’t seen’.”
According to Ms Worsley, Peter Cumberland enquired about purchasing the decoy’s trainers and proposed meeting at Blackburn train station, providing his home location on Bonsall Street.
The decoy after that informed him that he was unable to go since his mother prohibited it and enquired about his ability to ascertain whether Peter Cumberland was a murderer.
Ms Worsley said: “The defendant said he wasn’t a killer but was gay, and would prove it by kissing his feet and then ‘making him gay’.
“He said he would like to play with his penis and asked if the decoy was a virgin.”
The court then heard how Peter Cumberland told the decoy he would like to have sex with him and then asked if he wanted a photo of his genitals before sending him one of him sitting on the toilet.
The conversation continued the following day, and they arranged to meet at Blackburn station on July 25.
Ms Worsley added: “Peter Cumberland said he would ‘make him a man’ and sent him photos of his house to reassure him he was telling the truth about where he lived.”
The decoy and a colleague arrived at Blackburn station, saw the defendant, approached him, and asked about his online activity.
They ushered him to an alleyway away from public view and called the police before handing over documents to officers which detailed the conversations they had online.
Peter Cumberland was arrested, and his mobile phone was analysed, with officers able to download the conversations he had with the decoy.
The 31-year-old, who has no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to attempting to cause a child to look at a sexual image, trying to engage a child in sexual activity, arranging the commission of a child sex offence and attempting to engage in sexual communications with a child.
In mitigation, Clare Thomas said her client was vulnerable, had lived a life of social isolation, had a learning disability, and had difficulty with speech and language and would find a prison sentence “traumatic”.
In sentencing, Recorder Daniel Prowse said: “I am satisfied you would have engaged in sexual activity with him if it had been a 14-year-old boy.
“I can’t suspend this sentence as it’s so serious that it can only be dealt with by an immediate custodial sentence.”
Peter Cumberland was jailed for 28 months, will have to sign the sex offender’s register for ten years and was handed a 10-year sexual harm prevention order.
DC Sarah Fyans of Lancashire Police East CID said: “Peter Cumberland’s behaviour in 2021 was very concerning and something we take extremely seriously.
“He has a troubling sexual interest in children and attended Blackburn Train Station fully expecting to meet a 14-year-old boy.
“I welcome the custodial sentence handed down by the courts to a man with no previous history of offending.
“I hope he uses his time in prison to reflect on his actions and get the help he needs.”
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