A 25-year-old Nigerian student in the United Kingdom, Anderson Ishiekwene, has been sentenced to three years in prison after being caught in a sting operation by an online paedophile hunter group.

He also faces automatic deportation upon completing his sentence.

Ishiekwene arrived in the UK on a student visa in 2025 and settled in Sunderland. He was arrested in Washington, England, after arranging to meet someone he believed was a 14-year-old girl.

A jury at Newcastle Crown Court found him guilty of attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming. He had earlier admitted to attempting to engage in sexual communications with a child.

In addition to the prison term, the court ordered him to sign the sex offenders register and comply indefinitely with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order. The judge noted the seriousness of the intended meeting.

Authorities confirmed that Ishiekwene is likely to be deported from the UK after serving his sentence. The case has been reported as part of ongoing efforts to protect minors from online exploitation.

Photo credit: Instablog9ja