Paedophile Jailed After Undercover Sting Exposed Twisted Plot
A 61-year-old man from Ringwood has been locked up after a police sting uncovered his plans to abuse a nine-year-old child.
Undercover Cops Catch Biles Planning Abuse
Stephen Biles, of Riverside, Ringwood, was caught after communicating online and over the phone between January and March 2020, thinking he was speaking to an adult planning to abuse their niece at a hotel. But the “adult” was actually an undercover officer from the North East Regional Organised Crime Unit (NEROCU) – and the child never existed.
Shocking Evidence Found at Arrest
Biles was arrested at home on April 1, 2020. Police seized electronic devices revealing 52 Category C indecent images of children. Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary’s Internet Child Abuse Investigation Team (ICAT) charged him with making indecent images and two counts of arranging or facilitating child sex offences.
Biles pleaded guilty to the image charges but denied the rest. At Portsmouth Crown Court on September 4, 2024, he was found guilty.
Jail Sentence and Lifetime Sex Offender Order
On Friday, September 27, Biles was handed three years and nine months behind bars at Southampton Crown Court. He also received an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order and must register as a sex offender for life.
The judge slammed the “prolonged torrid exchange of messages” and said Biles “couldn’t let the prospect of meeting a child go.”
PC Gemma Southcott, ICAT investigator, said: “This lengthy investigation used specialist tactics to catch a man posing a serious risk to children. Despite overwhelming evidence, Biles denied the charges, only delaying the justice he deserved.”
Detective Inspector Allen Hull, NEROCU Operation Lead, added: “This is police partnership at its best, putting a dangerous predator behind bars. We will continue to do all we can to protect children, both in person and online.”
