---

He was a respected landlord, a retired Met Police officer, a man who once drove fast‑response cars and later ambulances — but today, 71‑year‑old Melvin Hopper stood in the dock as a judge branded his online messages to a teenager ‘frankly grotesque’. Hopper, from Minster on Sheppey, admitted attempting sexual communication with a child after sending explicit messages and images to someone he believed was just 13 years old.

The court heard how Hopper first contacted “Lucy” in an online chatroom in September 2023, hiding behind a fake name, fake age and fake address. Pretending to be a 60‑year‑old from Croydon, he quickly moved the conversation onto an app that allowed him to send pictures. “Lucy” displayed her age as 18 — but was in fact a decoy officer who would reveal she was 13 if approached.

When she told Hopper her real age, he replied she was “a bit young for what he had in mind” — but carried on talking anyway. What followed was a stream of explicit messages, descriptions of sexual acts he imagined, and a picture he sent before telling her it was “your turn”. He asked for a “bikini shot”, asked what she would wear if they met, and continued the conversation despite acknowledging her age.

Hopper was arrested in Minster and charged. He initially denied wrongdoing, claiming people “roleplay” online and insisting he would have backed away if he thought she was a real child. But the court said he did believe she was 13 — and carried on regardless.

In court, his barrister described Hopper as “disgraced”, “remorseful”, and “terrified” of prison. He said Hopper had been ostracised by friends, family, children and grandchildren — all of whom had cut ties with him. His 51‑year marriage has collapsed, and he now lives apart from his wife Margaret. The court also heard he has severe medical issues after losing his stomach to cancer.

His life story was laid out: printing trade, Met Police firearms officer, fraud investigator for Kent County Council, ambulance driver during the pandemic, and landlord of Sheppey’s Heritage Micropub — now permanently closed.

---

Recorder Edmund Burge KC told him the messages were “frankly grotesque” and that Hopper knew exactly how serious the offence was. He handed down a 10‑month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, along with 15 rehabilitation days and a 10‑year Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Hopper walked out of court a free man — but with his reputation destroyed, his family gone, his business shut, and his fall from grace complete.