Edgbaston sexual predator jailed for trying to arrange sex with schoolgirl

A 47-year-old sexual predator from Birmingham who tried to persuade a 15-year-old girl to have sex with him has been jailed after the youngster bravely reported the crime.

James Timmons, from Rotton Park Road, began talking to the young girl on a bus, and even though she told him she was only aged 15, he persisted and dialled his mobile from the girl’s phone – meaning the pervert had stored the schoolgirl’s number in his phone.

Later that evening on 30 January, he started to groom the underage girl by sending her messages about meeting up to have ‘no strings attached fun’.

She again told him she was just 15 – a message which detectives later found had been deleted by Timmons’ off his mobile to destroy evidence of his crime.

The sexual predator continued to send perverted messages until the young girl found the courage to get in touch with the police and managed to speak with specialist officers from the Public Protection Unit.

The brave young girl was offered immediate support and a police hunt was launched with Timmons being arrested later the same day.

Timmons, of Rotton Park Road, Edgbaston, was sentenced on 13 May to a 12-month jail term after being convicted at Birmingham Crown Court of inciting a girl aged 13 to 15 to engage in sexual activity.

The sex pest was also placed under a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and put on the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years.

DC Nicky Simms, from the Public Protection Unit, said: “We must commend this young girl for her bravery in coming to us and telling us what happened.”

The quick response from the police meant a young girl was saved from serious abuse at the hands of a manipulative predator. The Public Protection Unit stated ” we will always do all we can to take action and safeguard our youngsters”.

For further support, advice and information visit https://www.west-midlands.police.uk/your-options/child-sexual-abuse