Paedophile unwittingly drove 90 miles to Yorkshire to be arrested after thinking he was meeting 12-year-old girl for sex

A child sex offender was unwittingly lured into his own arrest when detectives pretended to be a 12-year-old girl online in a bid to entrap him.

James Buntain drove 90 miles from the Wirrall to Barnsley after chatting online to what he thought was a young girl.

The "repugnant" 57-year-old was jailed at Sheffield Crown Court this week after Yorkshire and Humber Regional and Organised Crime Unit arranged the sting in November last year.

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Buntain drove to Barnsley on November 7 to meet what he thought was a 12-year-old with the intention of having sex with her..

James Buntain was jailed at Sheffield Crown CourtJames Buntain was jailed at Sheffield Crown Court
James Buntain was jailed at Sheffield Crown Court

On arrival, he was met by police officers and arrested..

The investigation had found Buntain had also been engaging online with other children and he was also convicted at court for messages sent to an unidentified but presumed child victim.

He was described by Judge David Dixon QC as posing an ‘incredibly high risk’ of carrying out sexual offences towards young female children and given an extended sentence of 11 years on Wednesday.

Senior Investigating Officer, DCI Jon Best of the Yorkshire and Humber Regional Crime Unit, described Buntain as a "truly repugnant individual".

James BuntainJames Buntain
James Buntain
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“The Yorkshire and Humber Regional Organised Crime Unit work to ensure that there is no safe space online for those that wish to groom and abuse children..

“Our operation has identified over 130 offenders who wish to harm and sexually abuse children, ensuring they are arrested and prosecuted.

“We welcome the sentencing of this truly repugnant individual and the clear message the magnitude of his sentence delivers about the seriousness of this offending."

Buntain, of Wellbrae Close, was made the subject of an indefinite sexual harm prevention order.

Sheffield Crown CourtSheffield Crown Court
Sheffield Crown Court

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