Former lorry driver, 82, is confronted by paedophile hunters

Moment former lorry driver, 82, is confronted by paedophile hunters after he boasted about sexually assaulting children as young as six during online chats

• Joseph Lennard, 82, was arrested after making confessions during sex chats 
• The conversations, he thought, were happening between him and a 13-year-old
• Paedophile hunter group Dark Justice were operating the youngster’s account 
• During their exchanges, Lennard admitted to importing illegal immigrants and described a sex offence against a six-year-old in India  

This is the moment an 82-year-old former lorry driver is confronted by police and paedophile hunters after he boasted about sexually assaulting children as young as six during online chats.   

Joseph Lennard, 82, bragged that he had imported illegal immigrants into the UK during his career and claimed he had engaged in sex acts with children.

The pensioner, who lives in sheltered accommodation, made the shocking confessions during sex chats he thought he was having with a 13-year-old girl called Amy over the internet.

But Newcastle Crown Court heard the pervert had been duped by paedophile hunters Dark Justice, who were behind the fake profile he was chatting with and turned up at his door with police. 

Pictured: Joseph Lennard, 82, as he is confronted by paedophile hunters and police officers for boasting about committing sex offences to who he thought was a 13-year-old girl. Duped by paedophile hunters Dark Justice, Lennard detailed a sex offence against a six-year-old girl in India

Lennard, whose own profile on dating app Meet4U was named Wendy13F, claimed he was a 31-year-old woman called Wendy.

During the online chats, which started just before Christmas 2018 and involved ‘hundreds’ of messages being exchanged over a three-week period, Lennard admitted he was male but never revealed his true age.

Prosecutor Michael Bunch said much of the conversation was ‘mundane’ chat about food and Lennard’s car repairs.

But he added: ‘He disclosed his attraction to Amy and suggested he would like to meet with Amy and would wish to engage in sexual activity with her.

‘They discussed many sexual aspects and activities over the course of the messages.’

The court heard Lennard sent a graphic picture of a penis to the teen’s profile.

Mr Bunch added: ‘He also discussed, during the course of the exchanges between the two, the suggestion he had, while working as a lorry driver, been responsible for the importation of illegal immigrants into this country.

‘Perhaps more pertinently, he said he had been responsible for a child sex offence which took place in India with a child as young as six.

‘The implication from the context of the messages he exchanged implied he had engaged in sexual activity with other children in the past.’

Lennard is pictured in a series of Whatsapp messages sent to the Dark Justice paedophile hunter group 

The court heard members of Dark Justice passed Lennard’s address to the police and his home was raided.

Police found an extreme pornography image, containing a one hour video featuring bestiality, on his computer.

Lennard, of Beverly Court, Low Fell, Gateshead, admitted attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and possessing an extreme pornographic image.

Judge Julie Clemitson said the conversation exchange was ‘fairly stomach churning’ and told Lennard: ‘You tried to impress her with accounts of having exploited vulnerable children abroad and those desperate enough to try and travel illegally into this country.

‘You discussed sexual activity with a six-year-old girl. 

‘Whether true or not, the fact you fantasised about such a matter and described it to a child is disgusting.’

Lennard, who has never been in trouble before and is in poor health, was sentenced to a community order for three years with rehabilitation requirements.

He must sign the sex offenders register and abide by a sexual harm prevention order for five years and pay £400 costs.

Vic Laffey, defending, said Lennard had been leading an isolated existence which led him to explore social media.

Mr Laffey said Lennard acknowledges he needs to confront and overcome his problems which led to the offending.

He added: ‘He has significant health problems. He is clearly very elderly now.

‘He is ashamed he has lost his good character now, at 82.

‘He has been very foolish.

‘He will not appear in front of a court again.’

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