A dangerous s*x predator who hunts minors have been apprehended while in the act as he was waiting to meet and have s*x with a 14-year-old girl.
Dean Copley appeared in court for the crime
A paedophile was caught red-handed as he waited to meet a 14-year-old girl he met on Facebook for s*x.
The man identified as Dean Copley was tricked into believing he was meeting the teen after interacting with her on Facebook. Sheffield Crown Court heard how Dean Copley, aged 45, of Renathorpe Road, Shiregreen, even sent pictures of his penis to a teenager.
In a bid to lure him out a group calling themselves Online Predator Investigation Team (OPIT) behind the bogus profile asked to meet him. The group revealed how Copley was caught. It said it received a friend request from Copley and once the request was accepted, he immediately began to engage in topics of a sexual nature.
This fake profile picture was used to lure Copley
Once the meeting was agreed, the team behind OPIT, a married couple, waited at the station where they confronted Copley and alerted officers who arrested him. Police questioned Copley and he admitted sending pictures to the account he assumed was a 14-year-old girl.
He later pleaded guilty to attempted grooming.
Sentencing Copley, Judge Kelson QC said: “Perverts must be stopped from preying on children.
“You wanted full sexual intercourse with a 14-year-old child.
“You were not trapped by this couple you were trapped by your own perverted lust."
Copley was also made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
Watch the moment the paedophile hunter is caught below: