A 46-year-old man who attempted to meet a 14-year-old girl for sexual exploitation but was caught in a sting operation by a vigilante group has been jailed for 18 months.
Tim Bowen, of Cottage View in Monkstown in Co Cork appeared before Cork Circuit Criminal Court for sentencing today.
Bowen pleaded guilty last March to attempting to communicate with a child for the purpose of facilitating the sexual exploitation of that child on dates between 4 and 26 July 2019.
The self-employed handyman also pleaded guilty to attempting to meet the child at Costa Coffee in Bishopstown on 24 July 2019, for the purpose of doing something that constituted sexual exploitation, namely sexual assault.
The court was told that gardaí were alerted by a group referred to in court as "vigilante paedophile-hunters" who had confronted Bowen at the cafe.
Outlining the details, Det Sgt Gary Duggan told the court that between 4 and 26 July 2019, Bowen was in contact with a "decoy 14 year old" sending her pictures of his genitalia, links to porn sites, and making arrangements for her to travel to Ireland to have sex.
From the outset, the "decoy adult" who was working in the UK on behalf of the vigilante group Child Awareness Protection told Bowen she was 14 years old giving him "ample opportunities to stop".
But he made arrangements to meet the girl, and on 26 July, he was confronted by the group who uploaded their encounter online to social media and contacted Gardaí.
When arrested, Bowen made a full admission, Det Sgt Duggan told the court.
Bowen, who is originally from south Wales but living in Ireland for the past decade, is a self-employed handyman.
His marriage has since ended, and he is in a new relationship where he is the carer, the court was told.
Defence barrister Paula McCarthy said she accepted this is a very serious offence but her client made a full admission, coming forward on a signed plea to the court.
He also engaged with the Probation Services and is taking part in the Safer Lives programme for men convicted of sexual violence or exploitation offences.
She said he was taking full responsibility for his actions.
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Sentencing Bowen, Judge Colin Daly said Bowen had been caught "red-handed".
He said his culpability was "very high" because he knowingly communicated with a 14-year-old child for sexual exploitation and then arranged to meet to have sex with that child.
"Children, by their very nature are very vulnerable to exploitation, whatever form that might take, but in particular, with regard to sexual exploitation.
"The exploitation of a child is, of itself, one of the most heinous crimes", Judge Daly said.
Bowen was sentenced to a total of 18 months in prison on both charges, to run concurrently.
Judge Daly reduced the headline sentence of five years to three years and six months to take account of his guilty plea and then suspended the final two years of the sentence for two years to take into account mitigating factors including his cooperation, engagement with the Probation Services and his personal circumstances.
