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24
Oct
Harrogate man who sexually messaged 14-year-old 'girl' avoids jail
A Harrogate man has avoided jail after attempting to sexually communicate with what he thought was a 14-year-old girl.
Adam Longden, 37, appeared before Harrogate Magistrates Court on Friday (October 23) where he spoke to confirm his name, date of birth and address.
Longden, of Spencers Holt, admitted attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and making indecent images of children at a previous hearing.
Mel Ibbotson, prosecuting, told the court that the 37-year-old, who was living in Skipton at the time, had been messaging what he thought was a 14-year-old girl on Snapchat between February 12 and February 15, 2025.
But, Ms Ibbotson said the profile for the girl was a decoy set up by Punishers North Wales which was described as a child activist group.
The court heard that Longden had told the decoy that he worked at a B&M store in Bangor and sent images of himself, including one of his penis.
Ms Ibbotson said:
The decoy repeatedly told the defendant that they were 14. He acknowledged and referred to her as ‘cute’. There was also a discussion about showering, where he says it was a shame that she was not near him.
The prosecution added that the decoy suggested travelling to see Longden, but he said he had to work and there was no further arrangements made.
Ms Ibbotson said Punishers North Wales notified police about the conversations between Longden and the decoy profile.
Officers were able to locate the 37-year-old’s address after making enquiries, the court heard, and attended his house.
Longden’s partner confirmed to police that he lived at the address, but was not home. He was later arrested.
The force seized a mobile phone from Longden for analysis and nine category B indecent images of children and one category A indecent image of a child were found.
Ms Ibbotson said the defendant made admissions to police about the offences during interview.
Longden had no previous convictions, the court heard.
‘Ashamed of his actions’
Rebecca Forbes, defending, told the court that Longden had pleaded guilty to all the offences at the first opportunity.
She said he gave “full and frank admissions” to police during interview and had been on bail for over a year.
Ms Forbes added that Longden had lost his job as a deputy store manager at B&M, where he was in line for a promotion, due to the offences and his girlfriend of three years had broken up with him.
She said:
He has become socially isolated. He does not want to have to mislead anyone about what is going on in his life. He does not want to open lines of communication.
Ms Forbes told the court that in the lead up to the communication with the decoy, Longden and his girlfriend had been working long hours and there was a “breakdown in the relationship”.
She added:
He started communicating with people online. This led to the communication with the ‘child’. He is ashamed of his actions and does not excuse what he did.
Magistrates sentenced Longden to a 10-month prison sentence which was suspended for 18 months.
He was also ordered to undertake a probation requirement and carry out 100 hours of unpaid work.
Magistrates also imposed a 10-year sexual harm prevention order on Longden and ordered him to pay court costs of £85 and a victims’ surcharge of £187.
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