JUSTIN IRVINE – HULL

2025 – Hull man jailed after online contact with child decoy

A Hull man has been sentenced to prison after attempting to engage in inappropriate online communication with a person he believed to be a 12-year-old girl, who was in fact an undercover police officer.

Justin Irvine, 36, of William Street, off Hessle Road, west Hull, was sentenced at Hull Crown Court after admitting attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child on April 21, 2023.

The court heard that officers created an online decoy profile posing as a young girl as part of a proactive operation to identify offenders targeting children online. Irvine made contact with the profile and continued communicating after being told the individual was 12 years old.

Prosecutors said Irvine sent and requested inappropriate images and engaged in conversations that were sexual in nature. The exchanges continued over a period of days, during which Irvine appeared convinced he was communicating with a real child.

He was arrested on May 19, 2023. During police interview, Irvine made no comment. Although he initially denied the offence, he later changed his plea to guilty.

The court was told Irvine has a significant criminal history, including previous offences involving sexual behaviour. The judge noted that the offence was serious and involved deliberate actions despite clear indications of the child’s age.

In mitigation, the defence said Irvine had accepted responsibility and recognised the seriousness of his conduct. The court heard that the investigation had a significant impact on his personal life.

Sentencing Irvine, Judge John Thackray KC said that only a custodial sentence was appropriate given the nature of the offence and the risk posed.

Irvine was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment. He was also made subject to a five-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order and was ordered to register as a sex offender for a period of 10 years.