A man has been jailed for a total of four years and four months after being convicted of several child sex offences, including arranging to meet a ‘13-year-old girl’ in Bushey.
Julian Braculla, aged 37, of New Malden in south London, appeared before Huntingdon Crown Court in Cambridgeshire yesterday (15 Nov) after being found guilty of:
- Attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child
- Arranging the commission of a child sex offence
- Meeting a girl aged under 16 following grooming
During the trial held at St Albans Crown Court, the jury heard how in Braculla began chatting online to a profile he believed belonged to a 13 year old girl. This was in July 2019.
The messages became sexual in nature and Braculla asked the online profile to share naked photos with him.
On Saturday 17 August 2019, he travelled 30 miles from his home to meet the girl in Park Close, Bushey, with the expectation that they would engage in sexual activity.
However, shortly after Braculla arrived he was arrested by officers from Hertfordshire Constabulary and taken into custody.
His car was searched, and police discovered alcohol and condoms inside.
Braculla denied the offences during his interview, telling detectives that he had intended to meet a friend that day but had got lost en route.
However examination of his phone showed that he had searched for the exact postcode of the planned meeting place in Bushey, and Braculla was later charged.
He pled not guilty but was eventually found guilty of all charges on Wednesday 6 October this year.
In addition to his custodial sentence, Braculla will be on the Sex Offenders’ Register for 10 years.
Detective Sergeant Georgie Fenge, who investigated the case, said: “Braculla has shown himself to be a very dangerous individual after driving a significant distance with the impression that he was going to have sexual relations with an underage girl.
“He knew very well what he was doing was wrong but despite that, he carried on. Convicting people like Braculla is the reason we come to work in the morning.
“Our main goal is to safeguard children from online predators, and ensure those who choose to commit these crimes are charged and jailed so they cannot be a danger to anyone else.”
