The sentencing hearing of a man who was caught in a sting operation while going to meet a 14 year old girl for the purpose of sexual exploitation has been adjourned until next year.
45 year old Tim Bowen of Cottage View in Monkstown, Co. Cork, previously pleaded guilty to two charges in the Circuit Criminal Court.
Bowen was charged with attempting to communicate with a child by way of communication technology for the purpose of facilitating the sexual exploitation of that child between the 4th and 26th of July 2019.
He was also charged with attempting to intentionally meet the child for the purpose of doing something that constituted sexual exploitation of the child at Costa Coffee café in Bishopstown on the 26th of July 2019.
The court heard that Bowen was never in contact with a real child in that instance, but was actually contacting members of what defence counsel Sinead Behan described as a "vigilante pedophile hunting group".
Today in court Judge Helen Boyle heard that Bowen is engaging with a psychologist and is also taking part in a Safe Lives programme which is supervised by the Probation and Welfare Service which aims to assist sex offenders in addressing their issues.
Judge Boyle adjourned the case to allow Bowen to complete the programme and remanded him on continuing bail to appear at the court again on the 15th of February 2023.
