61-Year-Old Man Sentenced for Attempted Meeting with '12-Year-Old'

A 61-year-old man was sentenced to six months in jail for attempting to meet who he thought was a 12-year-old girl in a Belfast car park after being caught by an online child protection group.

Details of the Case

Peter Doyle, a resident of Lir Fold on the Clay Road in Keady, Co Armagh, was sentenced at Belfast Crown Court for four charges dating back to 2021. He admitted to trying to meet a child following sexual grooming and engaging in attempted sexual communication with a child. The court heard that Doyle was detained in the car park of the Asda store on Belfast’s Shore Road by members of the ‘End Game Team’ online child protection group after engaging in sexually explicit conversations with who he believed was a 12-year-old child.

Arrest and Confession

Doyle was arrested after police were informed about his attempt to meet the supposed child. During the police interview, he admitted to planning a meeting with the child and sending explicit messages and images. Despite claiming he didn't believe he was actually communicating with a minor, 23 indecent images of children were found on his mobile phone. The judge sentenced him to 12 months in jail, issued a Sexual Offences Prevention Order, and placed him on the Sex Offenders Register for ten years.