Kevan Rose

A 'predatory' paedophile from Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, has been exposed for sending a revolting sexually explicit image to what he believed was a 12-year-old girl, only to discover it was an undercover police officer. Kevan Rose, aged 34, engaged in online grooming behaviour that led to his arrest and impending sentencing for serious child sex offences.

The incident unfolded in August 2021 when Rose, using the usernames DaddyK, Chris, and Open-MindedDaddy88 on the Kik messaging platform, entered a chatroom and initiated contact with a profile set up by an undercover operator posing as a 12-year-old female child. According to details presented at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court, Rose introduced himself as a 33-year-old man from Stafford named Chris. Despite being explicitly informed on 12 August 2021 that he was communicating with a minor, Rose proceeded to send a picture of his erect penis, confirming it was of himself, and engaged in sexual conversation.

• Rose's interaction began on 10 August 2021 in a Kik channel.
• He continued the chat even after learning the 'girl's' age.
• The explicit image was sent just two days into the conversation.
• Sexual chat ensued until Rose grew suspicious and ceased communication.

Prosecutor Anthony Longworth outlined the disturbing sequence of events during the court hearing, emphasising Rose's awareness of the apparent age of the recipient. Investigations traced the Kik account to Rose's flat on Percy Street in Hanley, with the associated phone number confirming his involvement. Rose was arrested on 5 October 2021, and a subsequent examination of his seized phone revealed the incriminating image matching the one sent to the decoy. He was re-arrested on the same day in connection with other matters.

Rose pleaded guilty to attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and failing to comply with notification requirements. At the time of the article, published by Stoke-on-Trent Live on 23 November 2022, he was already serving a two-and-a-half-year custodial sentence for separate offences: breaching a sexual risk order, failing to comply with the sex offenders' register, and perverting the course of public justice. Deputy Circuit Judge David Fletcher adjourned the case for sentencing on this new matter to 2 December 2022.

DC Nathalie Connolly from Staffordshire Police's Sex Offender Management Unit described Rose as a 'deceitful and predatory paedophile who knows no boundaries'. She further stated, 'His grossly offensive and abhorrent fantasies involving sexual acts with children have impacted and traumatised many innocent people'. This case underscores the vigilance of law enforcement in combating online child exploitation, with Staffordshire Police playing a key role in the operation.