When a ‘predatory and manipulative’ offender, Kingswood Paedophile Richard Campbell, tried to arrange to sexually abuse a man’s young daughter he was in for a surprise. The man was an undercover policeman.
Richard Campbell chatted to the officer online and tried to set up the abuse of the child. Bristol Crown Court heard Campbell sent the officer an indecent image of a four-year-old girl which he claimed to have abused in the past and described the effect it had on her.
Police who raided his home found he had a phone and iPad which he had not declared under the terms of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO). And he was found with a small number of indecent images of children representing all three categories of concern
Richard Campbell, 49, of Grace Drive in Kingswood, pleaded guilty to breaching a SHPO. He also admitted three charges of making an indecent image of a child and a single charge of distributing an indecent image of a child.
Judge Mark Horton jailed him for three years and four months, which included activation of a previously suspended sentence. The judge told Richard Campbell: “As a result of your previous convictions and your offences now there can be no doubt that you are a predatory offender and one who has manipulated, lied and deceived.”
Gregory Gordon, prosecuting, said after Richard Campbell’s online chats with an undercover policeman police made an unannounced visit to his home. Two undeclared devices were found under a duvet and indecent images of girls aged five to ten were found on them, as well as 117 ‘borderline’ images including video.
Ieuan Callaghan, defending, said “loneliness and isolation” was the root cause of his client’s offending. Mr Callaghan told the court: “He has began work in prison and there is evidence of insight.”
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