PART 3SEXUAL OFFENCES AGAINST CHILDREN

Sexual offences against children under 16

F1Communicating with a person with a view to grooming a particular child22B

1

A person aged 18 or over (A) commits an offence if—

a

A communicates with another person (B),

b

at the time of the communication, A intentionally presents himself or herself to B, to a group of persons that includes B or to the public at large as being under 18,

c

A’s intention in communicating with B is to establish or participate in an exchange of communications with a particular person whom A has in mind (C) with a view to subsequently committing a relevant offence against C, and

d

C is under 16 and A does not reasonably believe that C is 16 or over.

2

B and C may be the same person.

3

If—

a

A communicates with a group of persons, and

b

the group contains a person to whom A intentionally presents himself or herself as being under 18,

A is to be regarded as communicating with that person.