Worcester man's sex chats with 'girl' aged 13

Dean Taylor of Sawmill Close, Worcester was really talking to undercover officers working for the Metropolitan Police and using the Kik social media platform to target sex offenders and protect children from online predators.

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Taylor, who asked permission to leave the court by a back entrance but was denied by security staff, appeared before magistrates in Worcester today (Thursday).

CAUGHT: Dean Taylor was caught in a Met Police sting to protect children from online predators who groom and can go on to sexually abuse. Photo: James Connell

Inside court he indicated guilty pleas to four sexual offences.

He admitted an attempt to engage in sexual communication with a child between February 14, 2019 and June 22, 2019 'for the purpose of obtaining sexual gratification' (a 'child' aged 13 years); two charges of attempting to cause/incite a girl 13 to 15 to engage in sexual activity between the same dates; and attempting to cause a child 13 to 15 to watch or look at an image of sexual activity, again over the same dates.

BAILED: Dean Taylor leaves Worcester Magistrates Court. Photo: James Connell

Details of the offences are too graphic to print in full but involved inciting the 'child' to perform sexual acts and to take and send sexualised photos of herself to him, what he termed 'naughty photos', and also the sending of a video involving a male performing a sexual act.

Mark Hambling, prosecuting, said Taylor was caught by an online operation conducted by the Metropolitan Police using the Kik platform.

He explained that the 13-year-old child Taylor had been communicating with 'does not exist'.

The sentencing guidelines indicated a starting point of 18 months in prison for attempted sexual communication with a child with a range available of between nine and 24 months.

Causing or inciting a child has a starting point of 26 weeks and a range of a high-level community order to three years' custody.

He added: "These matters should go to crown court for sentence."

Mr Hambling also said Taylor was now required to sign the sex offender register.

Paul Stanley, defending, said: "I have nothing to say in terms of jurisdiction."

Taylor was told he must next appear at Worcester Crown Court on Friday, May 13 this year. As he had been on a postal requisition he was granted unconditional bail by the court.