September 2023

Grandad snared by paedophile hunters asked ‘teen’ for naked pictures and sent shirtless selfie

A married grandfather asked what he thought was a 13-year-old girl to send him naked pictures telling her he was “horny”.

David Dunn, 74, was snared by a paedophile hunting group who set up fictitious accounts for two 13-year-old girls on Facebook.

The Hartlepool defendant messaged “Sophie” and “Charlotte” back and forth telling both he was “horny”

Outlining the case, Sam Faulks said Dunn chatted to “Sophie” from October to December 2022.

In the first messages Mr Faulks said the conversation was “cordial” until the defendant asked to move the chat to Whatsapp.

Teesside Crown Court heard on November 2, “Sophie” asked if the defendant had any pets and he replied “only you”. He asked the fake profile for a picture and a decoy was sent.

Mr Faulks said he called her “beautiful” and replied to one picture with “wow yummy, love it anymore? Xx” he then called her “sexy” and sent a shirtless picture of himself.

In later messages the court heard he told her he was naked and aroused and said “it was all her fault for getting him horny”.

The defendant then made contact with “Charlotte” in November and December 2022. He began messaging the fake profile after the group accepted his friend request on Facebook. The pair then chatted on Whatsapp and the conversation became sexual.

Mr Faulks said: “He asked what he thought was a 13-year-old girl to send him naked pictures in bed, telling her he was horny, telling her she was sexy and even asking her to put on her horse riding gear and take a photograph of herself.”

He then told the fake profile if she was nearer he would pop round and “hug her tightly”. He said that would just be “for starters” and said he would like to kiss her and rub his hands all over her body.

Dunn pleaded guilty to two counts of attempting to engage in sexual communications with a child under the age of 16 at Teesside Magistrates’ Court in May. Dunn told a probation officer his actions weren’t sexually motivated however this was rejected in court.

Sentencing, Judge Jonathan Carroll said: “I reject you were not sexually motivated you were. It may shame, embarrass you and you may find it difficult to articulate but there can be no other motivation for what you said.”

Dunn, of Marina View, has no previous convictions and was handed an eight-month prison sentence suspended for two years.

He must complete 35 rehabilitation days and 120 hours unpaid work. He will also be subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) for 10 years.