Yahoo News Paedophile snared by vigilante after arranging to meet 14-year-old girl for sex
This is the moment a paedophile who thought he was meeting a teenage girl for sex was caught out by a vigilante.
Former Royal Mail director Edmund Phipps, 50, arranged to meet the ‘schoolgirl’ – who was actually a paedophile hunter – after sending her a series of Whatsapp messages.
In the exchange the 50-year-old – who thought the girl was 14 – told her: “you have to trust me i will be gentle” and “not bothered u r a virgin think it’s nice x”, as well as sending a picture of himself topless.
But when Phipps arrived to meet the teen in Bath, Somerset in July 2017, he was instead confronted by paedophile hunter Danny Catcher who carried out a citizen’s arrest.
Phipps, of Gloucester, Glos, admitted one charge of attempting to cause or incite a girl aged 13 to 15 into sexual activity with an offender aged 18 or over.
He was sentenced to six months imprisonment suspended for 18 months and given 60 days rehabilitation at Bristol Crown Court. He will spend seven years on the sex offenders’ register.
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In video footage of the sting, Phipps denies trying to meet the girl for sex and says: “I have not done anything of the sort. I want to see the police, this is absurd.”
He is then shown a photograph of himself that he sent via WhatsApp.
In the messages sent by the 50-year-old, who claimed he was 45 to the girl, Phipps wrote: “you sure we won’t be interrupted”, adding “good can have you all to myself mwah x”.
Danny Catcher said: “I do this because I want to protect children from paedophiles like Phipps, people who prey on vulnerable young people.
“He came to Bath in summer 2017 with the intention of having sex with a child. This is not acceptable behaviour and he deserves the punishment handed out today.
“If he can meet a decoy child for sexual activity, he could meet a real child. He is a danger to children and I am pleased to hear that he’s pleaded guilty to the offences. I sincerely hope that this is a wake-up call and that he never goes online to groom or meet a child in the future.”
A Royal Mail spokesman said: “We can confirm that Mr Phipps is a former employee. He was off duties from the time he was arrested.”
