A man who expected to meet a 13-year-old girl for sex has been convicted by a jury after he was lured to a park in Bushey by a paedophile hunter.
St Albans Crown Court heard how Julian Braculla, now 37, drove 30 miles from South London to Park Close in Bushey to meet who he believed was a 13-year-old girl called Megan.
He was convicted of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, arranging the commission of a child sex offence and meeting a girl aged under 16 following grooming.
Prosecutor Sophie Shotton said Sarah Purser had set up a fake profile of the child called Megan on the Skout social media and dating site to gather evidence against paedophiles.
Ms Shotton said: “He travelled 30 miles to meet what he believed was a 13-year-old child. When he arrived, he was confronted by the online child action group Innocent Voices.
“These included Sarah Purser who recognised him from selfies. The police were called, and he was taken into police custody. In his car whisky and condoms were found.
“His iPhone was examined and the most recent destination in the App was the WD23 postcode.”
In a police interview, he denied all the allegations and said he had not been the one communicating with Megan. He said he must have been set up by someone who wanted to cause him harm.
The married man told the officers he had met a friend in North Finchley and had got lost, saying the whiskey and condoms were for his own use at home.
Julian Braculla will be sentenced on November 11 by Judge Philip Grey.
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