Newbury man Jason Waple narrowly avoids jail after being snared by paedophile hunters

A MAN who wanted to take the virginity of a 13-year-old girl was snared by paedophile hunters.

Jason Waple, a father of one, used “appalling” sexual language online before arranging to meet the child for sex.

But Reading Crown Court heard 13-year-old ‘Evie Mount’ was, in fact, an adult decoy.

At a sentencing hearing on Tuesday, January 23, Jessica Clarke, prosecuting, said Waple’s language on Facebook became increasingly sexual.

She added: “He went on to explain to her what would happen, both physically and emotionally, when she first had sex, and how much she would enjoy it.”

His language was “extremely explicit in nature,” the court heard.

Ms Clarke went on: “He then discussed how he would like to be the one with whom she had her first sexual experience...he went so far as to make arrangements to have sexual intercourse.”

The court was told that police had been unable to open files on Waple’s electronic devices, so it is not known what was on them.

Waple, formerly of Bartholomew Street in Newbury, and latterly living at the town’s Two Saints hostel in Newtown Road, admitted trying to incite a child to engage in penetrative sexual activity in Newbury on January 24 last year.

A second charge, of trying to persuade a child to engage in sexual activity by requesting that she sent him a photo of her genitals, was not proceeded with, in light of Waple’s guilty plea to the first charge.

Kelly Enever, defending, pointed out that her client had not proceeded with any plans to meet ‘Evie’ and had, in fact, blocked her account.

She said: “He desisted because, in short, he became aware of what he was doing and was disgusted with himself.

“The language he used was appalling – but this is a decoy case.”

Ms Enever pointed out that ‘Evie’ had initially approached Waple via Facebook and he had not sought out contact with a child.

At a previous hearing in the magistrates’ court Waple had been warned to prepare himself for an immediate jail sentence.

But Ms Enever suggested: “A suspended sentence or stand alone community order is very much viable.”

Judge Rachel Drake told Waple: “You chose to communicate with a person who presented themselves to you as a 13-year-old girl.

“You knew exactly what you were doing.

“The conversation went on for some time; you turned it sexual, to discussions of having intercourse, to discussions of meeting.

“You intended full, penetrative sexual activity.

“There was an element of grooming, a request for a photograph.”

Nevertheless, because it was a decoy case, there was never any prospect of a child coming to harm, added Judge Drake.

Waple was sentenced to two years imprisonment, suspended for 18 months.

In addition the judge added a 45-day Rehabilitation Activity Requirement and ordered Waple to attend a sexual offenders programme.

Furthermore, Waple was ordered to complete 100 hours of unpaid community work.

Finally, he was made subject to a 10 year Sexual Harm Prevention Order and required to sign the Sex Offenders Register for the same period.