George Gleed, 78, was caught by paedophile hunters after sending pictures of his penis to a decoy he believed to be a teenage girl.
Moment George Gleed is confronted by paedophile hunter group when he attempted to meet who he thought was a 14-year-old girl he had been speaking to online
A convicted paedophile sent a picture of his penis to who he thought was a 14-year-old girl and attempted to meet up with her but was met by a paedophile hunter group. He told the decoy he wanted to kiss her all over her body and instructed her to touch herself sexually.
George Gleed, 78, drove to Cyfarthfa Shopping Park in Merthyr Tydfil on June 8, 2022 in the hope of meeting up with a 14-year-old girl he believed he had been speaking to online. But he was met by a group known as Dank Dragon who live streamed their confrontation on the internet.
A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Tuesday heard Gleed began speaking with the decoy on a social media app days before his arrest. For the latest court reports sign up to our crime newsletter.
The decoy told the defendant she was a 14-year-old girl but he continued to message her and attempted to groom her.
He did this by complimenting her on her appearance, offered to take her out in his car and to buy her a car when she was old enough to drive.
Prosecutor James Evans said Gleed went on to send sexualised messages, saying he wanted to kiss the girl’s neck, abdomen and lips.
He asked her if she masturbated and referred to himself masturbating before requesting a photo of her vagina.
The defendant went on to send a photograph of his own penis and again requested pictures of the decoy.
During the conversations, Gleed made reference to “playing with himself” and instructed the girl to masturbate when she was in bed.
He spoke about travelling to Cardiff to meet the decoy, and said he would “spoil her” and perform sexual acts upon her.
On the day of the planned meet, Gleed said he would take the girl to McDonald’s before going for a drive and “kissing her all over her body”.
The defendant, previously of Maerdy but now of Golden Close, Brixham, Devon, later pleaded guilty to attempting to meet a child under 16 following sexual grooming, attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity and attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child.
The court heard he has 15 previous convictions, including an offence of indecent assault on a child under 14-years-old, dating back to 1991.
In mitigation, Martha Smith-Higgins said her client has a number of medical issues including asbestosis, which requires long-term treatment. The barrister said the defendant has split up from his wife, has moved to a different area and is in a new relationship.
Sentencing, Judge Jeremy Jenkins said this was another case affected by an “inordinate delay” which has caused “difficulty and concern”.
Gleed was sentenced to 21 months’ imprisonment, suspended for 21 months.
The defendant was ordered to carry out a 30 day rehabilitation activity requirement, to pay costs of £1,000, to sign the sex offenders register for 10 years and made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for five years.
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