A 39-year-old Havant man has been sentenced to three years in prison for attempting to incite a child into sexual activity after he was caught in an online sting operation.
Lee Comley, of Middle Park Way, Leigh Park, was arrested on 1st July following reports at 7:38pm that he had been sending sexually explicit messages online to what he believed was a 14-year-old child.
The fictional profile, named Maya, was created by a group known as the Child Online Safety Team as part of a sting operation. Comley initially contacted the profile through Facebook before moving their conversation to WhatsApp, where he requested bikini photographs before progressing to explicit images and videos.​
Hampshire Constabulary officers attended Middle Park Way and arrested Comley, who was subsequently charged with attempting to arrange or facilitate the commission of a child sex offence.​
At Portsmouth Crown Court on Friday 31st October, Comley pleaded guilty to the charge. Judge Michael Bowes KC sentenced him to three years’ imprisonment and said Comley had demonstrated a “lack of insight” into the severity of his offending.​
Comley was also placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely and made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, with the judge stating it was “both necessary and proportionate” for the order to be indefinite.​
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Havant Inspector Neal Harvey commented: “I am pleased with today’s result and I hope it sends a clear message about the seriousness with which we treat these offences.​
“Comley is a dangerous individual, and whilst luckily the child he believed he was communicating with in this instance wasn’t real, it is clear that the intent was there and that he could have caused real harm if not caught.​
“We are committed to ensuring that anyone who intends to cause harm to children faces justice for their horrendous actions, and we will pursue offenders relentlessly”.​
The arrest sparked disorder when approximately 100 people gathered at the scene, with some throwing objects, prompting Hampshire Constabulary to deploy officers with riot shields and impose a temporary dispersal order.​
Anyone with concerns about child abuse should contact Hampshire Constabulary on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.​
The NSPCC helpline is available confidentially on 0808 800 5000 for anyone who has experienced childhood abuse or has concerns about a child. Alternatively, email help@nspcc.org.uk. Children can contact Childline on 0800 1111.
Survivors of sexual abuse are entitled to support regardless of whether they report the crime. Further information is available at: www.hampshire.police.uk/ro/report/rsa/alpha-v1/advice/rape-sexual-assault-and-other-sexual-offences/rape-sexual-assault-support/
