ADAM YOUNGER FROM HORDEN SENTENCED FOR SEX OFFENSES AND CHILD ABDUCTION IN TEESSIDE

In a case that has sent shockwaves through the community of Horden and the wider Teesside area, Adam Younger has been sentenced to prison after a series of disturbing crimes involving minors. The court heard that Younger, a known sex offender with a long history of offenses against children, was branded a 'very considerable danger to boys' during his recent sentencing.

Over the past decade, Younger’s pattern of predatory behavior has been documented through multiple convictions, including sexual assaults, abduction, and possession of indecent images of children. His criminal record reveals a troubling history that began in 2005 when he was convicted of two counts of sexual assault on boys under the age of 13. These victims, both eight years old, were lured into what was described as a 'den' where Younger committed his offenses.

Two years later, in 2007, Younger was convicted again after he grabbed an eight-year-old boy in a park, pinned him down, touched him inappropriately, and threatened to kill him if he disclosed the incident. His pattern of offending persisted, culminating in a 2009 conviction for making indecent images of children. The severity of his criminal behavior led to a three-year prison sentence in 2011 for child abduction and breaching a sexual offences prevention order.

During a police raid at his residence in Horden, officers made a disturbing discovery: a 12-year-old boy was found hiding inside a cupboard in Younger’s bedroom. This unannounced visit was part of ongoing monitoring of Younger, who was then under strict supervision as a registered sex offender. The police report detailed that Younger answered the door partially dressed, and upon inspection of his home, officers found the boy concealed in a locked cupboard. The boy was coaxed out and reassured that he was not in trouble, but the incident raised serious concerns about Younger’s ongoing risk.

Following the discovery, Younger fled the scene but later attempted to communicate with the boy via text messages, instructing him to 'Run' and to pretend he had only been at the house for ten minutes. He was subsequently arrested outside his grandmother’s house in Sunderland. During police interviews, Younger claimed to have befriended the boy at a bus station, and it was revealed that the boy had been staying at Younger’s residence for much of the Christmas holiday, with Younger allegedly manipulating the situation by pretending to be the elder brother of the boy’s schoolfriend.

In court, Younger, now 23, admitted to child abduction and breaching a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOP). The order, issued in June of the previous year at Durham Crown Court, prohibited him from having contact with anyone under 16 without proper consent and supervision. Despite this, Younger had visited a home in Middlesbrough where he befriended a woman and her two boys, who were of a similar age to his previous victims. His interactions with the children were limited to casual conversation, and there was no evidence of sexual contact. However, the court noted that Younger had consumed alcohol at the residence, which could have impaired his resistance to his compulsions.

Judge Ian Atherton sentenced Younger to 18 months in prison for breaching the order, emphasizing that this was his second violation of such restrictions. The judge highlighted the significant risk Younger posed to children, especially given his history and the fact that he knew exactly what was prohibited. The court also took into account that Younger was in breach of a suspended sentence for burglary, which resulted in a combined sentence of three years imprisonment.

Earlier incidents in Younger’s criminal career include a 2012 police raid at his home in Horden, where officers discovered a 12-year-old boy hiding in a cupboard. Younger, then 22, was under strict supervision as a three-time sex offender. During the raid, officers found the boy concealed in a locked cupboard, and Younger was later arrested outside his grandmother’s house in Sunderland. He admitted to child abduction and breaching his Sexual Offences Prevention Order. His prior convictions also include downloading indecent images of children, which earned him a 21-month custodial sentence in January 2009, along with the imposition of a Sexual Offences Prevention Order to restrict future contact with minors.

Throughout the proceedings, the court was told that Younger’s actions demonstrated a clear pattern of grooming and manipulation, often using deceit to gain access to vulnerable children. The judge expressed concern over Younger’s ongoing struggle with his sexual attraction to young boys and his apparent inability to control his compulsions, which continue to pose a serious threat to the safety of children in the community of Horden and beyond.