Pervert, 58, who travelled almost 100 miles to a McDonald’s restaurant to meet two schoolgirls for sex only to be snared by vigilantes walks free from court 

  •  Alexander Robertson, 58, messaged two girls aged 14 and 15 on Facebook
  •  The under-age girls were in fact fake accounts made by Guardians of the North
  •  He agreed to travel from Leeds to Sunderland to meet 'Chelsea' and 'Lauren' 
  •  Robertson bragged about the size of his penis and said they were 'lucky girls'
  •  After denying what he had done for months he pleaded guilty on day one of trial
  •  Jailed for 12 months today, he was freed because of time he served on remand 

By Chris Summers For Mailonline

Published: 13:43 EST, 2 February 2017 | Updated: 18:24 EST, 2 February 2017

A 58-year-old man who travelled almost 100 miles in a bid to meet a 15-year-old girl and her 14-year-old friend for sex has walked free from court.

Alexander Robertson travelled from his home in Leeds to a McDonald's restaurant in Sunderland after chatting to two under-age girls online.

But the profiles on Facebook were fake accounts set up by the Guardians of the North, a vigilante group who expose paedophiles and alert the police.

Robertson (pictured) walked free from court, having spent eight months in custody 

Robertson pleaded guilty at Newcastle Crown Court to two counts of attempted grooming.

The court, sitting at Moot Hall, heard he contacted 'Chelsea Green', who was supposedly 15, and asked her if she would go out with an older man.

Michael Bunch, prosecuting, said: 'When she asked what they would do, he said "I'd love sex, have you had a bf?"'

Chelsea said she was a virgin who had only kissed a boy before and said: 'Do you mind, I'm only 15 though?' 

Robertson contacted 'Chelsea Green' through Facebook and asked her if she would have sex with him. She said she was a virgin and warned him she was only 15. He was unperturbed

Robertson contacted 'Chelsea Green' through Facebook and asked her if she would have sex with him. She said she was a virgin and warned him she was only 15. He was unperturbed

Mr Bunch told the court the fictional Chelsea was friends on Facebook with a 14-year-old girl called 'Lauren Taylor' who Robertson also started messaging.

He said: 'They talked about having sex and he said no one else should know. Lauren told the defendant she was staying with the grandmother while her mother was on holiday.

'The defendant asked if she could get the keys for her mother's house so they could go there.'

'He bragged about the size of his penis and that meant she was a lucky girl,' said Mr Bunch.

Lauren told Robertson her mother was away and he suggested staying the night with her

Lauren told Robertson her mother was away and he suggested staying the night with her

On June 2 last year, when they were due to meet, he told them he was having problems with his car, before later telling Lauren he would be able to make it after all.

Mr Bunch said: 'The defendant asked if they would do it all night.'

But when he arrived to meet the girls at a McDonalds restaurant in Sunderland he was confronted by members of Guardians of the North who reported him to the police.

Mr Bunch said: 'When interviewed by police he denied being the person in contact with Chelsea and Lauren.

'He said he had gone for a drive about with no destination in mind and called in to McDonalds for a bite to eat before heading back south.' 

Robertson (pictured, right) claimed he drove from Leeds to Sunderland with 'no destination in mind' and had just popped into McDonalds for something to eat before heading south

Robertson (pictured, right) claimed he drove from Leeds to Sunderland with 'no destination in mind' and had just popped into McDonalds for something to eat before heading south

Nicholas Cartmell, defending, said: 'He's a man of effectively good character. He's pleaded guilty, he's very sorry.

'His actions were foolish, himself described them as a cry for help. There's been some assistance given and I'm sure there will be more to come.'

Judge Robert Adams told Robertson: 'Clearly you intended to have sex with both of them.

'You denied responsibility all together, stating you were driving around and had nothing to do with these fake accounts.'

He sentenced him to 12 months in prison and gave him a 10-year sexual harm prevention order.

But as Robertson had already served eight months in prison on remand, he was released immediately.

Last year Sunderland footballer Adam Johnson was jailed for six years for grooming and sexual activity with a 15-year-old fan of the club. He is now appealing. 

 

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