Manchester paramedic who lured boy to Suffolk forest jailed
A paramedic who lured a 14-year-old boy to a Suffolk forest and molested him after grooming him on the internet has been jailed for four years.
Edward Trickett, 30, of Cromwell Grove, Levenshulme, Manchester, pleaded guilty to four counts of sexually assaulting a child under the age of 16 and one of meeting a child after sexual grooming.
He first contacted the teenager via a chatroom, Ipswich Crown Court heard.
He lured him to Theberton Forest, Suffolk, on two occasions in June 2010.
Prosecutor Michael Crimp said the boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, told Trickett he was 14 in a series of online conversations - and even asked if he was concerned about his age.
He said: "We say he was fully aware of the boy's age when he drove down from the north to meet him."
The offences came to light when the victim's sister found out about the relationship.
Mr Crimp added: "When they met, Mr Trickett asked for a kiss which the boy gave to him.
"They then moved to a secluded location and the victim told police he was concerned about what Mr Trickett wanted."
Trickett worked at Dent Row ambulance station, Burnley, at the time of the offences. He later moved to a base in Manchester.
Katherine Pierpoint, mitigating, said Trickett had himself been the victim of a sexual assault at the age of 14.
She added: "These offences are extremely out of character for him. He is of impeccable good character up to these matters."
Judge John Devaux jailed Trickett, placed him on the sex offenders' register indefinitely and banned him from working with children for life.
He said: "It seems you were yourself exploited in your early teens.
"But in this case there was a considerable age gap and you knew the boy's age. You groomed him over a series of weeks."
Trickett was suspended from his post with the North West Ambulance Service after the allegations came to light and resigned in October.