Man, 49, guilty of trying to meet teenager for sex

A 49-year-old man has been found guilty of trying to meet a teenage girl to engage in sexual activity.

When Giles Croucher, of Grove Lane, Ipswich, was arrested on June 28, officers found found three white-lace thongs, 10 condoms and two phones in his car.

Ipswich Crown Court heard how Croucher had claimed he was on his way to "catch out" and "confront" undercover police officers, who had been posing as a teenager online.

But a jury found him guilty of attempting to engage a child in sexual communication and attempting to cause or incite a 14-year-old girl to engage in sexual activity.

During Croucher's trial, the jury had heard how he had been in contact with an online account whose user was claiming to be a 14-year-old girl, but was actually an undercover police officer.

Croucher gave a prepared statement during an interview, which was read out in court.

In the statement, he said he knew he had been talking to an "undercover officer" and was not seeking sexual contact.

Croucher added: "I went to meet them to confirm my suspicions, catch them out and confront them.

"I had no intention to engage in any form of sexual activity," he said.

Croucher will be sentenced 7 March 2025.

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