Robert Gerard Shread

A 66-year-old man from the Rawcliffe area of York has been sentenced after pleading guilty to attempting to sexually communicate with a child online. Robert Gerard Shread appeared at York Crown Court on 23 June 2025, where he received a 10-month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months. In addition to the suspended sentence, Shread was ordered to complete 80 hours of unpaid community work and participate in a rehabilitation programme.

The case came to light when Shread used various chat websites and apps to message an individual he believed to be a 12-year-old girl. In these communications, he discussed explicit sexual acts and requested that the 'girl' send him indecent photographs. Unbeknownst to Shread, the profile was operated by an undercover investigator, and the incriminating messages were subsequently forwarded to North Yorkshire Police’s Online Child Abuse Team.

Shread was arrested in January 2024 following the discovery of the communications. During his police interview, he admitted that his actions were motivated by his own sexual gratification. He described the communication as 'disgusting' and acknowledged that it was 'not appropriate for someone of that age'. Shread formally pleaded guilty to the charges at York Magistrates Court in April 2025.

Following the sentencing, Detective Constable Melanie Gladwell of North Yorkshire Police commented on the case, stating: 'The defendant demonstrated a sexual interest in communicating with a 12-year-old girl, and used repulsive language to do so. He clearly had no regard to the lasting damage that his actions could cause. Behaviour like this poses a serious risk to children online – we will continue to pursue such offenders, and put them before the courts.'

This incident underscores the ongoing efforts by law enforcement to combat online child sexual exploitation through proactive investigations and undercover operations. The case was handled by North Yorkshire Police, highlighting their commitment to protecting vulnerable children from digital predators.