Predator Jailed for Sexting 12-Year-Old on Chat Apps
Gary Jefferis, 65, was slammed with a four-year prison sentence at Wolverhampton Crown Court after admitting to sending explicit messages to someone he believed was a 12-year-old girl.
Chilling Messages Show No Remorse
Using online chat platforms last November, Jefferis repeatedly asked the girl’s age. When told she was just 12, he replied that was no problem. Over a series of lewd messages, he sent sexual photos and pressed to meet up.
Plot Thwarted at Train Station
Jefferis arranged to meet the girl at Sandwell and Dudley train station, intending to have sex. But cops were waiting. On arrival, he was promptly arrested.
In interview, Jefferis claimed he never planned to go through with it and insisted he wasn’t actually interested in girls.
However, a vast trove of messages laid bare his true intentions.
Sentenced and Banned from Contacting Children
Jefferis, who has no fixed address, pleaded guilty and was jailed for four years on 14 March. He also received a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO), barring him from contact with minors.
Warning to Parents
Children are at risk from predators lurking on online games, social media sites like Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat, accessible on tablets, phones, and consoles.
If you suspect a child is being targeted online, visit 1 for advice and support.
