Groomer Gary Palmer Jailed for 5 Years Over Sick Online Chat
Palmer Caught in Undercover Sting
Gary Palmer, 42, of The Halve, has been locked up for five years after pleading guilty to one count of sexual communication with a child and nine counts of inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity. The case was heard at Winchester Crown Court on 21 December.
Palmer was caught in a sting operation by the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit (SW ROCU) and Wiltshire Police’s Child Internet Exploitation Team. Between 21 September and 18 October 2021, he chatted online with what he thought was a 12-year-old girl. He described in graphic detail the sexual acts he wanted and encouraged her to perform sexual acts on herself.
Footage Sent to Paedophile Hunter
The vile predator didn’t stop at messages – he also sent explicit videos of himself performing sexual acts to the fake profile. Fortunately, detectives revealed no real child was involved, and no one was harmed.
Police Send a Strong Warning
Detective Constable Julia Vince said: “The work we do undoubtedly prevents offenders like Palmer from going on and abusing vulnerable children. I hope this case sends a strong message that we are committed to targeting serious offenders who pose significant harm.”
Detective Inspector David Wells of SW ROCU’s Child Sexual Abuse & Exploitation Online team added: “Palmer posed a serious risk by persistently communicating with who he believed was a young girl. We work with regional forces to hunt down online predators and we urge parents and children to stay alert.”
Help Is at Hand
- Worried a child is being exploited? Report it immediately to the 123.
- Worried about inappropriate thoughts or behaviour? Contact the Lucy Faithfull Foundation for help.
