Jail for man who groomed teenager
A MAN who groomed a 14-year-old girl for sex has been jailed.
A MAN who groomed a 14-year-old girl for sex has been jailed.
David Pugh, 56, met the girl, who is from the St Neots area, on the internet while posing under a false name on a social networking site in January, last year.
He sent her messages and encouraged her to strip in front of a webcam.
Pugh arranged to meet the girl at Parker’s Piece, in Cambridge, on February 6 last year, and travelled up from his Surrey home to stay with his mother in Bedford the night before.
However, children’s charity the NSPCC had received an anonymous tip-off regarding the meet and police were called in.
Detectives traced Pugh and he was arrested in Bedford shortly after 10pm the same day.
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He pleaded guilty at Huntingdon Crown Court to arranging to meet a girl under 16 following sexual grooming, and four counts of inciting a child to commit a sexual act.
On Thursday, he was jailed for 16 months and made the subject of a 10-year Sexual Offences Prevention Order, banning him from working with children.
Detective Constable Nikki Perry, who investigated, said: “Pugh targeted a vulnerable young girl and attempted to groom her for sex.
“Fortunately, we were tipped off about his plans to meet the girl and he was arrested.
“This case highlights the dangers of social networking sites and the importance of monitoring your child’s use of the internet.”
