Man who tried to meet 'girl' for sex is jailed

A man caught trying to meet a teenage girl to engage in sexual activity has been jailed for nine years and six months.

Officers who arrested Giles Croucher, of Grove Lane, Ipswich, last June, found three white lace thongs, condoms and two phones in his car.

During his trial, Ipswich Crown Court heard how Croucher had claimed he was on his way to "catch out" and "confront" undercover police officers, who had been posing as a teenager online.

But a jury found him guilty in December 2024 of attempting to engage a child in sexual communication and attempting to cause or incite a 14-year-old girl to engage in sexual activity.

During Croucher's trial, the jury heard how he had been in contact with an online account whose user was claiming to be a 14-year-old girl, but was actually an undercover police officer.

Croucher, who was 49 at the time of his arrest, was sentenced at Ipswich Crown Court on Monday, placed on the sex offender's register indefinitely, and fined a £228 surcharge.

Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.