A 55-year-old man from Caldicot, Monmouthshire, has been sentenced to over three years in prison after a shocking attempt to meet what he believed was a 13-year-old girl for inappropriate activities. Neil Rockliffe had been chatting online with an adult posing as a young teenager. Despite being told about the supposed girl’s age, Rockliffe continued the conversation, which swiftly became disturbingly explicit.
In a bid to arrange a meeting, he told the decoy to bring a friend for a “threesome” and to tell hotel staff that she was his daughter if questioned. Rockliffe was caught when the supposed girl and her “friend” turned out to be adults working as decoys.
At Cardiff Crown Court, Judge Lucy Crowther handed down a sentence of 37 months, emphasising the gravity of his intentions. Her Honour noted that Rockliffe saw himself as some sort of twisted “instructor.”
Though Rockliffe initially blamed his actions on alcohol, he admitted to several charges, including attempting to engage in sexual communication with a minor. His previous clean record didn’t spare him from the court’s stern view, and he will also face restrictions under a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
This case serves as a crucial reminder of the dangers lurking online and highlights the vigilant efforts needed to protect vulnerable young people.