Brendan Malone, 56, of Wilsdon Way, Kidlington, pleaded guilty on April 16 to one count of attempting to meet a girl under 16 after grooming and one count of attempting to cause or incite a boy under 15 to engage in sexual activity.
Malone was sentenced to two years in prison for each offence, to run concurrently, at Oxford Crown Court yesterday (14/6).
Malone contacted decoy children online and engaged in sexual communication with them between April 8 and 14, this year, believing they were children.
Malone was reported to police and arrested on April 14. The next day, he was charged.
Malone contacted these decoy children with the intent of engaging in sexual activity with them,” said investigating officer Detective Sergeant Steven Morris of Banbury CID.
“Even though the people he tried to contact were not children, Malone’s intentions were clear.”
Thames Valley Police will always take such offences very seriously, and we will always look to investigate and prosecute offenders accordingly.
“We will seek a Sexual Harm Prevention Order in the future to ensure that when Malone is released from prison, he is subjected to conditions that prevent him from engaging in similar behaviour in the future.”
“I hope Malone will use his prison time to reflect on his completely unacceptable behaviour and accept any rehabilitation that is offered to him.”
