November 2020

Paedophile from St Austell caught trying to meet ’13-year-old girl in foster care’

A paedophile who was caught by paedophile hunters after arranging to meet what he thought was a 13-year-old girl has avoided a prison sentence

Roger Slade, 45, sent pictures of his penis to the ‘girl’ and requested her send him pictures of her vagina.

Slade, of Truro Road in St Austell, appeared at Truro Crown Court for sentence after pleading guilty to attempting to cause/incite a child to engage in sexual activity and attempting to meet a girl aged under 16 following grooming.

Prosecuting the case, Holly Rust, described how a member of hunting team ‘Totnes Justice’ made a fake Facebook account pretending to be a girl aged 13 who was in foster care.

In February last year Slade, who was homeless at the time, contacted the account saying ‘nice’ and ‘how old are you’.

The girl told him she was 13 and Slade asked for a picture before continuing the conversation, saying he was deleting the messages and she should to the same.

Miss Rust said: “During the conversation he asked questions about her vagina and asked her to send a photo. He sent her a picture of his penis and asked if she wanted to have sex.

“There was a conversation about meeting and he asked if they could kiss.”

Slade eventually attended the meeting only to be confronted by members of paedophile hunting teams ‘Totnes Justice and Uk database. He waited calmly with them until police arrived and arrested him.

Sentencing Slade, Judge Simon Carr said: “Members of the public set up a Facebook account purporting to be a child aged 13 and to show the vulnerability of the child they said she was in foster care.

“You were told she was 13 and communicated with her for a period of time before the conversation became sexualised.

“You encouraged her to send pictures of her genitalia and sent a picture of your penis. You also deleted the messages and asked her to do the same.

“You were told when you agreed to meet her you were going to play it safe but it may hurt. This was indicative of your intention to have sex.”

Judge Carr went onto list the mitigating features in Slade’s case before concluding that a suspended sentence would allow him to receive treatment for his perversions.

Judge Carr added that Slade mustn’t hide behind his alcoholism and if he offends again he will ensure he spends most of his life in prison.

Slade was given a two years prison sentence, suspended for two years. He must also complete a rehabilitation activity requirement and an alcohol treatment programme.