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Men jailed for online rape plot Men jailed for online rape plot
(20 minutes later)
Three men who used an internet chat room to hatch a plan to rape a schoolgirl have been jailed. Three men who used an internet chat room to hatch a plan to rape two young sisters have been jailed.
Southwark Crown Court heard how they plotted to rape and allegedly murder a girl, making "chilling references to the Soham murders". They made "chilling references to the Soham murders" on a free and reputable website, Southwark Crown Court heard.
David Beavan, 42, of Bransgore, Hants, Alan Hedgcock, 41, of Twickenham, and Robert Mayers, 42, of Warrington, were cleared of plotting murder. David Beavan, 42, of Bransgore, Hants, Alan Hedgcock, 41, of Twickenham, and Robert Mayers, 42, of Warrington, were found guilty of conspiracy to rape.
Jurors were told the trio communicated over a free and reputable website. They were given indeterminate sentences with an 11 year tariff for Beavan and an eight-year tariff for the others.
Indecent images
Jurors heard the men were arrested after Beavan walked into Bournemouth police station and told officers what was going on.
Beaven, 42, a greeting card salesman, of Shackleton Square, Bransgore, Hants, claimed he was just a "vigilante" gathering evidence against paedophiles but was convicted of two counts of conspiracy to rape.
Film make-up artist Alan Hedgcock, 41, from River Way in south-west London and Robert Mayers, 42, of Brighton Street, Cheshire, were found guilty of the same charge.
All three admitted various charges including 50 sample counts of distributing, making and possessing thousands of indecent images of children.