Sex offender jailed after bid to meet girl, 14, for sex is thwarted by paedophile hunter

Paul Walkling travelled from his home after a arranging a meeting with a 14-year-old girl in Wales for sexual purposes, Lincolnshire Police said in a statement.

Instead, on his arrival he was confronted by a paedophile hunter, say police.

He was jailed for 54 months by Lincolnshire Crown Court earlier this week.

Walkling has been previously convicted of offences involving indecent images of children in 2010, and was subject to a Sexual Offences Prevention Order and also had to abide by the Notification Requirements under the Sexual Offences Act.

Police say that the latest court appearance arose from Walkling attempted to contact a 14-year-old girl in Wales for sexual purposes last year.

“He travelled from Lincolnshire to Wales to meet her. On arriving in Wales, he was been confronted by a paedophile hunter,” the police statement said.

“Walkling then returned to Lincolnshire. The paedophile hunter passed on all of the their evidence to Dyfed-Powys Police who contacted Lincolnshire Police.

“Lincolnshire Police worked with Dyfed-Powys Police to gather further evidence.

“Walkling was then arrested on November 28th and warrants were carried out at his home address.

“He was charged that evening and remanded into custody.”

Walkling initially pleaded guilty to the offences at Lincoln Crown Court on January and was sentenced to 54 months on February 10.