A 60-year-old man, Hendrick Groenewood, possessed a BB pistol and handcuffs when attempting to meet an individual he believed to be a 14-year-old schoolgirl, although asserted to the police that he “only desired a cuddle.”
During police interrogation, when enquired about his sexual attraction to youngsters, Hendrick Groenewood responded: “A little bit.”
The court also heard that Hendrick Groenewood had communicated with the same online vigilante group in a separate conversation, believing he was conversing with “Holly,” whose profile indicated she was 13 years old.
Hendrick Groenewood proposed engaging in sexual activity and enquired of the alleged 13-year-old what “they would be doing together beneath the covers”.
Hendrick Groenewood was informed of the girl’s age, yet he enquired whether she would engage in sexual intercourse with him.
Hendrick Groenewood pleaded guilty to two counts of attempting sexual communication with a child and to attempting to meet a child following grooming.
He has been jailed for 30 months, made subject to a sexual harm prevention order for 10 years, and must comply with sex offender police notifications for the same period of time.
Defending, lawyer Nikki Horton said she had concerns about how much Hendrick Groenewood could understand.
She said: “He possibly has a learning disability. He also sent photos of his bedding with stuffed toys on top of it; and of jigsaws that he’s done. There’s a certain naivety and childlike behaviour; perhaps he doesn’t have the adult intelligence that others have.”
But Recorder Thomas Moran said that a report on Hendrick Groenewood found the fact that he took a BB gun and handcuffs with him “extremely concerning.”
He added: “You’re socially isolated and you said you were looking for a friend. You said you were only looking for a cuddle.
“I reject that. You were interested in sexual activity. I am in no doubt that you intended to abduct the girl – that’s the only sensible explanation as to why you had handcuffs with you at the time. However, this was an attempt to meet – there was no real victim.”
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