Christopher Webb, 38, from Tilesford near Pershore in Worcestershire, has been sentenced to four and a half years in prison after being convicted of attempting to groom a child. The conviction follows a West Mercia Police undercover operation in March 2025, where Webb targeted a person he believed to be a 12-year-old girl on Snapchat and WhatsApp, arranging to meet her at Gloucester Train Station, where officers arrested him.
Undercover Police Trap
Webb engaged in explicit communications with an undercover officer posing as a child, sending indecent images of himself and requesting similar material. His plans to meet the girl were foiled when West Mercia Police arrested him at the train station, stopping any real harm.
Sentenced At Worcester Crown Court
On 24 April at Worcester Crown Court, Webb was convicted of causing a child to engage in sexual activity with penetration, attempting sexual communication with a child, and attempting to meet a child under 16 after grooming. He was handed concurrent sentences totalling four years and six months, along with a £228 victim surcharge.
Long-term Restrictions Imposed
Webb will be subject to indefinite registration on the sex offenders’ register and a ten-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order. The order prohibits unsupervised contact with females under 18 and includes internet restrictions requiring police notification and forensic monitoring of any devices he uses.
Damning Evidence Discovered
Upon arrest, police found in Webb’s possession a bag containing an envelope with girls’ underwear labelled with his address. His phone revealed his Snapchat profile and internet searches, including “do under-16s need a train ticket,” confirming his awareness of the victim’s age.
Police Warning Issued
Detective Constable Rich Britton of West Mercia’s Online Child Sexual Exploitation Team said: “We are pleased to put this paedophile behind bars before he could carry out any of his disgusting intentions on an actual child. This operation protected potential victims from his depraved behaviour. Webb was caught red handed thinking he was speaking online to a girl. We warn anyone attempting to groom children that it could be the police and lead to prison.”
