(EADT) — A 75-year-old man who was caught by a police internet sting after he tried to meet a child for sex has walked free from court after a judge decided not to send him straight to prison.
Suffolk police set up the sting with specialist officers pretending to be a 14-year-old boy online and John Wright was arrested after he arranged to meet the teenager at Bury St Edmunds railway station in November last year, Ipswich Crown Court heard.
Richard Kelly, prosecuting, said that Wright sent the “boy” pictures of his private parts over the internet and arranged to meet him through the dating app Grindr.
However, when Wright, who had brought condoms with him, arrived at Bury station he was met by police officers and arrested.
Wright, of Rye Gardens, Little Downham, Ely, admitted attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity and was given a 16 month prison sentence suspended for two years.
Hewas also ordered to take part in the Thames Valley Sex Offenders’ Treatment Programme and a 40-day rehabilitation activity requirement.
He was further ordered to do 80 hours unpaid work in the community and was made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order and ordered to sign the sex offenders’ register for ten years.
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