In reality, the two girls he had been speaking to were ‘decoys’
Gavin Stubbs admitted two offences of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child. He also admitted attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity and attempting to meet a girl following sexual grooming. (Image: Hull Live)
An internet pervert got a nasty shock when he was suddenly confronted by a paedophile hunters group in a pub after arranging to meet a teenage girl there. Gavin Stubbs tried to talk his way out of trouble by denying that he had been speaking to a child online – and he pretended that he was there to meet an adult, Hull Crown Court heard.
Stubbs, 48, of Cave Street, off Beverley Road, Hull, admitted two offences of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, between January 10 and 18, 2024. He also admitted attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity and attempting to meet a girl following sexual grooming.
Connor Stuart, prosecuting, said that Stubbs contacted the two teenage girls on Facebook but he did not know that, in reality, they were decoys set up by an online group. He made highly sexualised comments to them and asked them to be his girlfriend.
He suggested meeting one of them at his house. An arrangement was made to meet at a pub in Hull but he was confronted by the online group after he was found there.
He denied that he was there to meet a child and he claimed that he was at the pub to meet an adult. His telephone numbers, however, matched those involved in the conversations with the decoy girl. He denied communicating with a child decoy.
Rachel Scott, mitigating, said that Stubbs made denials during an interview for a pre-sentence report. “He says he was being asked why the offending took place,” said Miss Scott. “He simply couldn’t answer that.”
Stubbs was ashamed of his offending. He had the intention of committing sexual offences by suggesting meeting up with one of the girls but he would not have followed this up, the court heard.
Stubbs had suffered alcohol problems since the age of 18 and he also had other difficulties. He had not committed any further offences.
He had a previous conviction for a sexual matter involving touching a female’s bottom. “The stress of these proceedings has really weighed upon him,” said Miss Scott.
Judge John Thackray KC said that neither of the girls existed because they were decoys and there was no actual harm caused but there was intended harm. “The harm that would have been caused would have been immeasurable and lifelong,” said Judge Thackray.
“They were young teenage girls. There was graphic sexual communication. These are serious offences. You lied about your age.
“I am not satisfied that your risk can be managed in the community or that you can be rehabilitated. Ultimately, the seriousness of the offences is such – there being two intended victims here – that only an immediate custodial sentence can be justified here.”
Stubbs, who had been on bail, was jailed for two years. He was given a 10-year sexual harm prevention order and he must register as a sex offender for 10 years.