A man who was caught by paedophile hunting team UK database after he groomed what he believed were several schoolgirls has been sentenced.


A man who was caught by paedophile hunting team UK database after he groomed what he believed were several schoolgirls has been sentenced.

Robert Harcombe, 50 of Highbridge appeared at Taunton Crown Court where he was sentenced for:

– Three counts of causing or inciting a girl aged 13 – 15 to engage in sexual activity – No penetration

The court was told that the recycling assistant manager had contacted several online profiles that he believed belonged to at least four schoolgirls aged as young as 13 years old

Harcombe went on to send highly sexually explicit messages with the clear intent of engaging the children into sexual activity. During the chat, Harcombe also sent videos of himself masturbating. After several weeks, the pervert arranged to meet one girl in the local woods and stated he would bring his young daughter along. However, he made an excuse and failed to show up.

Members of the UK database team decided to confront Harcombe at his home address in February 2018, and questioned him on his internet activity. Harcombe admitted he had a problem and that he found it hard to stop talking to youngsters online.

The team told Harcombe that the children he had been speaking to were in-fact decoy’s from the UK database and Shadow Hunters paedophile hunting teams.

He stated that he admired the team for what they were doing in the capture of online child groomers.

The team rang the police who arrived and arrested Harcombe.

The judge handed Harcombe a six month prison sentence suspended for two years

He was ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid work and to complete a 20 day rehabilitation course

Harcombe was told that he must register as a sex offender for seven years.