Reading Crown Court: Newbury paedophile jailed

A PAEDOPHILE who was caught in a police sting operation has been jailed.

The balding, 53-year-old engineer from Newbury – who called himself 'Dishy Dave' online – thought he was talking to a 12-year-old schoolgirl named Ella.

In fact, he was conversing with an undercover police officer.

On Wednesday, September 22, David Booth of Riverdale Court appeared for sentencing at Reading Crown Court.

Edward Lucas, prosecuting, said Booth made contact via a chatroom called Oasis and added: "She said she was 12 years of age and a virgin. He said he would make her 'a virgin no more' and would be gentle with her. He regarded her as 'my sexy secret'."

The conversations then moved to online messaging services WhatsApp, with Booth suggesting a variety of sex acts, the court heard.

Mr Lucas added: "He told her they would be naked in bed together soon. There were explicit sexual communications from him involving penetrative sexual activity."

Police then tracked Booth to his home address and arrested him on Tuesday, January 19.

He admitted one count of attempted sexual communication with a child and three counts of attempting to incite a child into sexual activity, committed in September and October last year.

Darren Almeida, defending, said his client had no previous convictions and added: "He has not today, or at any stage, sought to deflect or apportion blame anywhere else.

"He is under no illusion these are very serious matters... these types of offences have real victims."

Mr Almeida said his client, a lifelong engineer, had been made redundant and was lonely during the pandemic lockdown, which prompted him to seek online company.

He sought to portray his client's month-long period of offending as "a moment of madness" and pointed out that, in this particular case, there was never a any risk since Booth was talking to a decoy.

Mr Almeida said his client was "terrified" of being locked up and pleaded with Judge Sarah Campbell to impose a suspended sentence.

However Judge Campbell declined to do so and instead sentenced Booth to an immediate custodial sentence of 32 months, telling him: "You can go down, Mr Booth."

He will serve half behind bars and the remainder on licence in the community.

In addition, Booth was made subject to an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order and was ordered to sign on the Sex Offenders Register for life.