Telford paedophile, 34, tried to meet '14-year-old boy' at McDonald's after sending lewd pics on Grindr
Pervert told “boy”: “You’re fit, but I don’t want any trouble.”
A paedophile who arranged to meet what he thought was a 14-year-old boy at McDonalds has avoided prison.
Jamie Whyte, aged 34, sent pictures of his private parts after meeting the “boy” on Grindr.
However, Whyte was actually talking to an undercover police officer using a decoy profile on the LGBTQI+ dating app.
Shrewsbury Crown Court was told that Whyte had set up a profile on the site under the pseudonym “I’m Bi 33”. The undercover officer used the name “Jay”.
Whyte made contact with “Jay” on December 5, 2024, sending pictures of his private parts, before the conversation moved over to Whatsapp.
“Jay” said that he was 14 early on in the chat, but Whyte asked questions about his sexual experience.
He told Jay: “You’re fit, but I don’t want any trouble,” suggesting he knew what he was doing was wrong.
Whyte told “Jay” he worked as an HGV driver, and suggested they meet so they could kiss.
It was agreed they would meet at McDonald’s at The Forge Retail Park in Telford. Whyte said he was in his work’s car - a white Ford Focus estate.
Police attended and found Whyte parked up nearby with his mobile phone on his lap.
“He was co-operative with police,” said Danny Smith, prosecuting.
Whyte, of Blakemore, Brookside, Telford, pleaded guilty to attempting to incite a boy to engage in sexual activity and attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child. He has no previous convictions.
Paul Smith, mitigating, said Whyte pleaded guilty at the first opportunity.
“I accept it passes the custody threshold,” Mr Smith said.
Judge Peter Barrie told Whyte: “You went to the retail park intending to meet up with a 14-year-old boy in order to engage in sexual activity with him.
“There is no doubt that you understood his age. That is treated as a serious offence given the young age of the person you were intending to meet.
“There was no 14-year-old boy. There was an undercover police officer.
“You had fallen for the temptations of the internet which led to this conversation and your arrest.”
The judge handed Whyte an 18-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, as well as 15 rehabilitation activity days.
Whyte was also made subject of a 10-year sexual harm prevention order, and ordered to sign onto the sex offenders register for 10 years.
Judge Barrie also ordered the deprivation of the phone Whyte used to message “Jay”, and ordered him to pay £150 in prosecution costs.