Surrey: Pedophile back in jail for trying to meet child

Officers from Surrey Police’s online pedophile investigation team received tips that Coughlin was hacking his SHPOs by using apps including Snapchat and then deleting them.

Police seized 15 devices from him, including phones and laptops, which underwent a thorough digital examination.

Coughlin was arrested for breaching his SHPO and facilitating the commission of a sexual offense after evidence showed he planned to meet a child for the purpose of sexually assaulting him.

He pleaded guilty to making indecent images but not guilty to facilitating the commission of child sex offences. He was found guilty after a trial in February.

The judge said that in addition to the prison sentence, Coughlin will be subject to sex offender registration requirements indefinitely and will be issued a sexual harm prevention order indefinitely.

Det Sgt Ben Green said: “In this case it was clear that Coughlin used a variety of tactics to try to hide his digital footprint and was prepared to continue to lie in the face of evidence.

“The behavior he exhibited was predatory, so I am extremely pleased with this outcome.”