David Horne, 57, has been sentenced to nine years in prison after arranging to meet a child for sex.
The paedophile from Shildon, County Durham, had been communicating online with what he believed was a 14-year-old girl. However, he was actually speaking to an officer from the North East Regional Organised Crime Unit (NEROCU).
Investigation and charges
The officer was conducting an investigation alongside the Eastern Region Special Operations Unit (ERSOU) with the support of Durham Constabulary. Horne was arrested on March 9 and subsequently charged with several sexual offences, including attempt to engage in sexual communication with a child, attempt to cause a child to look at an image of sexual activity, attempt to cause a child to engage in sexual activity, and breaching a sexual harm prevention order.
Court appearance and sentence
On Wednesday, Horne appeared at Teesside Crown Court for sentencing after pleading guilty to all charges. He was sentenced to a total of nine years in prison.
Following the sentencing, NEROCU Detective Constable Georgina Lewis said: “This has been a complex investigation which has thankfully helped secured a great outcome at court. Horne is behind bars for a substantial amount of time where he will no longer be a danger to children.”
Partnership working
Lewis added: “I want to thank our partners in ERSOU and Durham Constabulary who supported us in this investigation – another strong display of the power of partnership working. Under Operational Sentinel, we will continue to work with our partners to tackle online child abuse and sexual exploitation and would urge anyone who has been a victim of this type of offending, or has concerns about someone’s behaviour, to come forward and talk to police.”
