Met Detective Jailed For Trying To Meet 13-Year-Old After Grooming Her Online For Sex

A 52-year-old Metropolitan Police detective tried to meet a 13-year-old girl for sex while on duty, so he ended up in jail.

After grooming Caitlin, who was actually an undercover officer, online, Francois Olwage traveled 75 miles to meet her, reported The Sun. When cops arrested him in a McDonald’s in Basingstoke, Hampshire, they found a bottle of lubricant, two condoms and a packet of Tadalafil erectile dysfunction tablets in his bag. A box of Ferrero Rocher chocolates, thought to be a present for the girl, was also found. The detective was caught when he was about to buy a McFlurry for the girl.

The meeting with the girl was scheduled after he revealed sex acts that he wanted to perform on her during two weeks of explicit messaging. Olwage had booked a hotel room for the meeting.

He was recently sentenced to five and a half years in jail at Winchester Crown Court, according to The News. He was convicted of grooming what he believed to be a teenager whom he met on the Lycos online chat forum. He was convicted of attempting to meet a girl under the age of 16 following grooming, attempted sexual communication with a child and attempting to cause or incite a girl aged 13 to engage in sexual activity.

At the beginning of the trial, he pleaded guilty to improperly exercising his police powers and privileges in order to get the "benefit of sexual gratification." Prosecutor Peter Shaw told the jury that the detective had been listed as “on duty working from home” on Oct. 28. It was the date he traveled by train to Basingstoke with the aim of meeting the teenager.

Defending Olwage, Adrienne Knight said that the detective, who had served with the Metropolitan Police for nine years and seven years for Hertfordshire Constabulary, had submitted a letter expressing his “sorrow for what he had done." The lawyer said that Olwage, who was going through a divorce, was “vulnerable” at the time, reported Independent.

Olwage told the jury that he “never believed” Caitlin was a 13-year-old, and that he thought she was an adult “playing out a fantasy." He also denied any sexual interest in kids.