Pervert, 36, tried to start sex chat with eight-year-old in online game before child’s mother took over app and exposed him
- Owen Taylor approached the little girl online by posing as a teenager
A 36-year-old pervert tried to start a sex chat with an eight-year-old girl in an online game before the child’s mother took over the app and exposed him.
Owen Taylor approached the schoolgirl – who was playing Movie Star Planet on her tablet – by claiming to be a teenager under a different username.
Taylor was actually 36 when he went to the game to send pictures of his body and get “flirty,” Newcastle Crown Court heard.
Claire Anderson, prosecutor, said the defendant called her “cute” during chats which he later tried to continue on other online sites.
Upon discovering the stranger’s message, the girl’s mother has changed her daughter’s profile to allow the child to continue playing under a different name, but she was later shocked to find Taylor contacting her again days later.
Newcastle Crown Court (pictured) heard that pervert Owen Taylor approached an eight-year-old girl in the online game Movie Star Planet by posing as a teenager
The mother then pretended to be the girl so she could gather more information before later contacting the police.
Taylor, now 40, of Pendyfryn Farm, Dwygyfylchi, Wales, admitted sexual contact with a child and attempted sexual contact communication with a child.
In a statement, the girl’s mother said her family’s life was forever changed by the ordeal.
She added that she felt “sick in the stomach” after making the discoveries on the app, which she thought was safe for kids that age.
Judge Timothy Gittins sentenced Taylor to eight months behind bars.
He told him, “You were targeting a website called Movie Star Planet that was clearly aimed at young children under the age of 13.
“At least you knew from her profile picture that she was clearly so young.
“You had conversations with her that you consciously wanted to develop, not only in a sexualized conversation, but also in the exchange of images of a sexual nature.”
The judge said Taylor tried to lure her away from the app to Snapchat’s more easily deletable messaging service.”
The court heard that the child’s mother was shocked to discover the nature of the messages.
He added: “At one point you asked her to delete the chat and you deleted what you had on your device, or at least tried to.
The girl’s mother changed her daughter’s profile to allow the child to continue playing under a different name, but she was later horrified to discover that Taylor contacted her again days later (File Image)
She (the mother) ended the chat and changed the name of her daughter’s profile on that website, but that didn’t stop you. Just a day or two later, you contacted her again through her new profile.
“Unfortunately but fortunately she became worried and confused about what you asked her to do.”
Unbeknownst to Taylor, the girl’s mother had taken over the account and continued to talk to the defendant to try to take him down.
The judge added: “You continued to have a flirtatious conversation with who you thought was an eight-year-old child and sent more pictures of yourself and asked for pictures of her.”
The court heard that “investigative work” had been done by both the girls’ parents, which ultimately led to Taylor’s arrest.
Defensively, Robin Patton told the court there were strong mitigating factors that allowed Taylor to be rehabilitated into the community.
Mr. Paton said, “This case is reaching the liberty threshold of which the defendant is aware and he has brought a bag here.
“It seems to be the opinion that he is someone who really needs the help of probation and courses. There are strong positive signs that he can be rehabilitated.’
The court also heard that Taylor had lost his marriage.
However, the judge ruled that the case was so serious that only immediate detention was warranted.
Taylor will also be subject to a sexual harm prevention order for 10 years.