Ryan Lee James Highfield

Ryan Lee James Highfield, a 37-year-old man from Bournemouth, was sentenced at Bournemouth Crown Court on May 23, 2023, for a series of child sex offences committed between August and November 2022. Highfield, who had prior convictions for sexual activity with a 14-year-old girl and grooming a 13-year-old, breached his sexual offences prevention order multiple times by communicating with decoys posing as young girls on social media.

The court heard that Highfield initiated contact with five fake profiles operated by paedophile hunter groups, using lines such as 'hey, you are stunning' to start conversations. He arranged to meet a decoy pretending to be a 13-year-old girl at a McDonald's in Boscombe on October 27, 2022, where he was confronted by vigilantes and arrested by Dorset Police. Less than a month later, on November 20, 2022, he attempted to meet another decoy, aged 11 or 12, at Pokesdown Railway Station, leading to a second arrest.

• In messages, Highfield made explicit sexual comments, including 'if only you were older' and 'because I would love to **** you', despite the decoys clearly stating their underage status.
• He sent a pornographic video, an indecent photograph of himself, and invited one decoy to his flat for penetrative sex.
• Highfield also requested images from the 'girls', commented on their appearance in school uniforms, and asked one to perform a sex act on herself.

Prosecutor Stuart Ellacott outlined Highfield's 13 previous convictions for 26 offences since 2000, noting his high risk to female children. Judge William Mousley KC described Highfield as a 'dangerous offender' based on his history, pre-sentence report, and medical records, stating: 'You are a high risk to females and in particular to female children.' The judge emphasised that none of the 'children' were real, but the adults were attempting to expose potential paedophiles.

In mitigation, barrister Nick Robinson highlighted Highfield's childhood trauma, time in care from age six, learning disabilities, and lack of sophistication in using his real name and photo online. He argued Highfield 'acted out his impulse' without considering consequences. Despite this, Judge Mousley imposed an eight-year custodial sentence, with a three-year extended licence, requiring Highfield to serve at least five years and four months before parole eligibility. Highfield was also made subject to an indefinite sexual harm prevention order and placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely.

Detective Constable Matt Loader from Dorset Police's paedophile online investigation team commended the vigilante efforts and the police investigation, saying: 'Ryan Highfield is a repeat offender whose behaviour clearly indicates he had the intention of committing sexual offences involving children and he posed a threat to vulnerable young people.' The case underscores ongoing efforts to protect children from online grooming by known sex offenders.