Paedophile sent sexual messages to police officer

A paedophile who sent sexual messages to an undercover officer, believing he was communicating with a 12-year-old girl, has been jailed for seven years.

Michael Richardson, 49, started messaging the officer on Kik, a social networking app, on 28 January.

He sent sexual messages requesting “she” touch herself inappropriately as well as asking her to send a photo of herself so he could “make a video.”

Pictured: Michael Richardson, 49. 

Richardson was arrested at his home in Money Bank, Wisbech, on 28 March and officers seized his phone, which was found to contain 48 indecent images of children.

On Monday (3 August), at Cambridge Crown Court, Richardson, was jailed, having pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children, attempting to cause/incite a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity (penetration), attempted sexual communication with a child and attempting to cause a child under 13 to watch/look at an image of sexual activity.

Richardson was also handed an indefinite sexual harm prevention order and placed on the Sex Offenders Register indefinitely.

Detective Sergeant Julia Boon said: “Richardson is clearly a danger to children, so I’m pleased he’s been brought to justice and given a sentence that reflects the severity of his offences.

“We will continue to do everything we can to arrest those who abuse or intend to abuse vulnerable people and put them before the courts.”