A man who was caught in a sting operation organised by members of a “vigilante paedophile hunting group” after he went to meet what he thought was a 14-year-old girl in the anticipation of having sex has been jailed for 18 months.
Tim Bowen (46) formerly of Cottage View in Monkstown, Co Cork had cleared out his van and was in possession of condoms. He had been grooming what he thought was a teenage girl from the UK.
However, the ‘girl’ was in fact an adult from a paedophile vigilante group posing as a 14-year-old.
Mr Bowen, who is a self-employed handy man previously pleaded guilty to two charges at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.
The first charge is that between July 4th and July 26th, 2019, Mr Bowen did attempt to communicate with a child by way of communication technology for the purpose of facilitating the sexual exploitation of that child.
The second charge is that at Costa Coffee café in Bishopstown in Cork city on July 26th, 2019, he did attempt to intentionally meet the child for the purpose of doing something that constituted sexual exploitation of the child, namely sexual assault.
The court previously heard that the Bowen, who is originally from Wales, had gone to meet what he thought was a 14-year-old girl in Cork nearly four years ago.
However, the defendant was in fact never in online contact with an underage person but rather with what his then defence counsel Sinead Behan told the court was members of a "vigilante paedophile hunting group."
The court heard that the group organise operations to lure in people who are trying to make inappropriate contact with children online.
The vigilante group informed gardai of the actions of the defendant and a full investigation was launched.
The court previously heard that Mr Bowen was without a GP in spite of having bipolar disorder and ADHD. He has lost his marriage and job arising out of the publicity which the case previously received.
Today at Cork Circuit Criminal Court Judge Colin Daly heard evidence from Sgt Gary Duggan who said that Bowen had been in touch via text with the “decoy 14-year-old” for three weeks.
Judge Daly was told that Bowen was trying to get the ‘girl’ to leave the UK and come to Cork to have sex with him. He texted the ‘girl’ pictures of his genitals. He also sent her other images of a sexual nature and links to porn sites.
The UK based adult from the vigilante group repeatedly let Bowen believe that he was communicating with a 14-year-old girl. However, he continued to communicate with what he thought was a young girl.
Sgt Duggan said that when the defendant arrived at the café on July 26th, 2019 members of the vigilante group were lying in wait. They gave gardai a dossier with images, texts and messages sent to him by the fictional girl.
Judge Daly heard that Bowen made full admissions when he was arrested and accepted that he was caught “red handed”
A search was carried out of his van and they found that the back of the vehicle was cleared in anticipation of him having sex with the ‘girl.’ A box of condoms was in the back of the van.
Defence barrister Paula MccCarthy said her client acknowledged that it was a very serious offence. However, she said he had made full admissions in the case and had entered a guilty plea. She stated that he was taking responsibility for his behaviour.
Judge Daly said that Bowen had knowingly contacted what he thought was a 14-year-old girl for the purpose of sexual exploitation.
“Children by their very nature are vulnerable to exploitation, whatever form that may take, but in particular, with regard to sexual exploitation. Sexual exploitation is the most heinous crime.”
He jailed Bowen for three and half years but suspended two years of the sentence.
Mr Bowen has been engaged in a Safer Lives programme which provides independent support to people during their investigations for online and other sexual offences. It has been in existence since 2014.
