A Blackpool barman was caught by paedophile hunters after sending explicit messages to someone he believed was a teenage boy online
Blackpool: A barman named Richard Overton got himself into serious trouble after chatting online with someone he thought was a 15-year-old boy. He was actually talking to a decoy set up by paedophile hunters.
It all started on February 27, 2024, when Overton began messaging a user on Grindr who went by ‘TeenChavvyLad’. The decoy claimed to be a shy teen who hadn’t come out yet.
Overton didn’t know he was being set up. He sent inappropriate messages and even photos, thinking he was talking to a real kid. The decoy played along, saying he was too shy to send anything back.
Things escalated quickly. Overton asked about the boy’s sexual experiences and made some pretty explicit comments. On May 5, 2024, the hunters tracked him down to his home in Blackpool.
When they confronted him, it was all caught on video and shared online. His lawyer said he felt “extremely embarrassed and ashamed” and that he lost both his jobs because of this mess.
In court, Overton pleaded guilty to attempted sexual communication with a child. The judge, Heather Lloyd, pointed out how quickly he turned the conversation sexual and expressed concern over his lack of understanding about the harm he could cause.
In the end, Overton got an eight-month suspended sentence and a 10-year sexual harm prevention order. He also has to complete rehabilitation activities and a treatment program for his cannabis use, which the judge noted was linked to his behavior.
It’s a pretty shocking case, and it serves as a reminder of the dangers lurking online.
