Pedophile spared prison after judge says web chat with 12-year-old girl ‘motivated by boredom’

The judge presiding over the case argued that the man was "motivated by boredom rather than sexual interest in children" and that his "shame and remorse seem genuine."

Andrew Teale, 43, began his chat innocently enough, but the conversation quickly turned sexual, with the married father eventually performing a sex act over Skype.

In the conversation, going by the name Andy4Fun, he described how he was "getting horny" while "needing to take care of his urges."

He asked what was "the naughtiest thing she had done," before telling her about a threesome he had during the country's lockdowns.

Upon seeing a photo that he believed to be of the girl, he told her how "beautiful" and "sexy" she was, wishing he were younger as he "would want to be with her."

He asked her about her underwear and told her he was "thinking what you look like without a nightie."

Unbeknownst to Teale, he was saying all of these things to an undercover police officer, which ultimately resulted in his arrest in January.

He admitted to attempting to engage in sexual activity in the presence of a child and attempting to engage in sexual communications with a child.

The judge gave him a 12-month suspended jail sentence, meaning that he doesn't have to physically go to prison so long as certain requirements are met, including 150 hours of community service.

During the sentencing, his previous good character, job loss, as well as the overall impact on his family life were also noted, although these comments were criticized as being an "insult to injury" by a former head of the national online police child protection unit.

Formerly the Head of Innovation at British investment firm AJ Bell, Teale resigned from his position in July without informing the company of the criminal charges he was facing.

Teale's lawyer says that he put a stop to his behavior and sought help.