Parents pose as their 11-year-old daughter to snare Facebook paedophile grooming her for sex

An 11-year-old girl's parents posed as their child on the internet to snare Thomas Gibbs

A couple posed as their 11-year-old daughter on Facebook to trap a paedophile who was grooming her for sex.

The parents took over the girl's online profile and, after arranging to meet Thomas Gibbs twice, handed the evidence to police.

Yesterday, 52-year-old Gibbs was jailed for 16 months after admitting two counts of meeting a child following sexual grooming.

Oxford Crown Court heard how the couple, who cannot be named for legal reasons, first became concerned after noticing their daughter was spending a lot of time on the internet.

Prosecutor Jennifer Edwards said the mother's suspicions were further aroused when she noticed her daughter chatting with another Facebook user on a laptop in the family's living room.



The mother took over the conversation and saw Gibbs had commented on the girl's profile picture, saying he wanted to kiss her.

He had also written on her profile page 'I really like you' and 'I want to meet you.'.

'She saw over the little girl's shoulder and immediately appreciated she was communicating with Gibbs,' Mrs Edwards said.

The woman alerted her husband and the police, and the couple continued to chat with Gibbs, posing as their daughter.

'The contact continued for the following week,' Mrs Edwards said. 'Each time her daughter went on to the computer Gibbs was there ready, willing to respond.'



When Gibbs asked to see the girl for the first time, her mother suggested meeting in Witney, Oxfordshire, at noon on April 18.

The couple watched Gibbs from a distance, collecting evidence, but did not confront him.



The family then agreed to another meeting in Carterton, Oxfordshire, on April 30, and Gibbs was arrested.



Mark Dixon, defending, said Gibbs had never mentioned sex or made any sexual references during the online conversations.

However, he admitted: 'It has caused the family hell and he (Gibbs) accepts responsibility and guilt for that.'

Gibbs, from Witney, was also ordered to sign the sex offenders' register for five years.

Outside court, the girl's mother said: 'She's a very bright girl but you think about all the others that could have been targeted.

'When it first happened she didn't want to go out but she knows it's all over and he won't be able to do this to any other families.

'It does make me more wary of Facebook and parents should be aware of what their children are doing on the internet.'

Detective Constable Jon Capps said: 'I would like to pay tribute to the family who have prevented any further offences being committed, as well as the young girl who was brave enough to tell her parents.'