A 25-year-old woman from North Somerset has been sentenced to prison after trying to meet a young boy for sexual purposes, only to be caught in an undercover police operation.
Bex McCullgh traveled to Bristol in October 2024 with the intention of meeting the child, but she was arrested by officers from the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit (SWROCU) before she could carry out her plan.
McCullgh pleaded guilty to several charges, including attempting to incite a person under 16 to engage in sexual activity, arranging the commission of a child sex offence, and attempting to communicate sexually with a child.
At Bristol Crown Court, McCullgh was sentenced to eight years in prison. The sentence includes four years in custody, with an additional four years on extended license once she is released. She will serve at least two-thirds of the prison sentence before being considered for parole.
In addition to her jail time, McCullgh has been issued a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO), and she will be placed on the Sex Offender Register for life.
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Detective Inspector David Wells, who led the investigation, said: “This sentence reflects the serious threat McCullgh posed to children, and the orders issued will help protect children when she is eventually released.
Our Online Investigations Team is part of a national network that works tirelessly to identify and arrest offenders targeting children online.”
Wells also stressed the importance of awareness among young people and their carers about the risks posed by online predators, emphasizing that efforts like these are vital for keeping children safe in today’s digital age.
