Shropshire Star

Accused paedophile remanded for safety after arrest live-streamed online

A man whose arrest following an operation by an internet paedophile hunter group was broadcast live on the internet, was remanded in custody yesterday – partly for his own protection.

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Michael David Roberts, 31, of Coed Aben in Wrexham, appeared at Flintshire Magistrates Court at Mold, charged with grooming and posting messages on Facebook for the purpose of obtaining sexual gratification.

He did not indicate pleas and the case against him was sent to the crown court. He was remanded in custody in the meantime.

The prosecution alleges that Roberts was in touch with a female whom he believed to be a 14-year-old girl in London, but who was in reality an adult and a member of paedophile hunter group Internet Interceptors.

It was claimed that a meeting had been arranged at Wrexham on Saturday but when he turned up the police had been informed and he was arrested. Prosecutor John Wylde applied for a remand in custody.

The court heard it would not be appropriate for him to return to his home address, but that that if a suitable address became available the prosecution would consider not objecting to bail.

Defending solicitor Andy Halliday said it was not thought safe for him to be in the local community. A backlash was feared after his arrest was broadcast in a live stream on social media and had been seen in the area.

The defendant has learning difficulties and it was difficult for the family, but they could not offer him an address at this stage due to the nature of the allegations and the way the arrest had come about around the corner from his mother’s address.

“Unfortunately I am not in a position to put forward a bail address,” said Mr Halliday.

A remand for his own protection was probably the most appropriate.

He also said that the charges would need to be looked at by the prosecution. His client would be pleading not guilty to the charges as they were currently phrased.

They alleged that he arranged to meet a girl under 14, intending to commit an act of sexual activity with a child and obtaining sexual gratification by sending messages of a sexual nature to a girl of 14.

The truth was that the child did not exist and that it was an adult female with whom he had been in communication.

Magistrates said the case would be sent to a plea and trial preparation hearing at Mold Crown Court in January.

He was remanded in custody in the meantime and broke down and cried as he was led to the cell block from the court dock.

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