County Derry man pleads guilty to attempting to meet and communicate with children

A 45-year-old County Derry man, whose address cannot be made public, is to be sentenced in six weeks time after he pleaded guilty during his arraignment at Derry Crown Court to attempting to meet and attempting to communicate with children with the intention to committing a sexual offence.

Christopher Totten was originally granted anonymity when he first appeared in court on the charges last December but the anonymity order was later overturned when it was challenged by media representatives.

At his arraignment before Judge Neil Rafferty KC the defendant pleaded guilty to a charge that on April 8, 2023, having previously communicated on at least two occasions with a person under the age of seventeen, attempted to meet that person with intent to commit a sexual offence.

He further pleaded guilty that between April 4 and April 8, 2023, for the purposes of obtaining sexual gratification, he attempted to intentionally communicate with a person under the age of sixteen, the communication being sexual or intended to encourage the young person to make a sexual communication.

An additional charge that between April 4 and April 8, 2023, he assisted or encouraged others to attempt to distribute or show an indecent photograph or pseudo photograph of a child is to be left on the books, not to be proceeded with without the permission of the court.

The defendant, who was allegedly caught in paedophile-hunter gang sting last year, was released on continuing bail until he's sentenced in six weeks time.

Following his guilty pleas he was placed on the Sex Offender's Register and the time he'll spend on the register will be determined when he's sentenced.

Barrister Michael Duffy described the defendant as a very vulnerable person with a complex mental health history and who has been under the care of a neuro surgeon.

The defendant, who has no previous criminal convictions, must notify the police of where he's living until he's sentenced.