ALFRED SCOTT LIDDLE OF NEWBIGGIN-BY-THE-SEA CAUGHT AT NEWCASTLE CENTRAL STATION BY PAEDOPHILE HUNTERS

In August 2017, a disturbing case unfolded involving Alfred Scott, also known as Alfred Liddle, a 24-year-old man from Newbiggin-by-the-Sea, Northumberland. Scott was convicted of attempting to meet a minor for sexual activity after engaging in online grooming and explicit exchanges with an individual he believed to be a 13-year-old girl named Jess. The incident highlights the dangers posed by online predators and the efforts of vigilant groups to combat such crimes.

Scott had traveled from his home in Newbiggin-by-the-Sea to Newcastle's Central Station with the apparent intention of meeting Jess, a girl he had been communicating with via social media platform Tagged. Unbeknownst to him, the individual he was speaking to was part of Dark Justice, a well-known paedophile hunting organization that operates by posing as underage girls online to catch men seeking illicit encounters.

During their conversations, Scott had sent explicit images, including a photograph of his semi-erect penis, and engaged in sexually explicit chat. Despite being on license from a previous conviction, Scott continued to communicate with Jess, inviting her to send more explicit pictures and discussing sexual acts he wished to perform. The court was told that the conversations made it clear Jess was only 13, yet Scott persisted in his attempts to arrange a meeting.

When Scott arrived at Newcastle Central Station, he was confronted by members of Dark Justice. Recognizing that the girl he believed he was meeting was not real, he panicked and fled the scene. The vigilantes quickly detained him, and police arrested him shortly afterward. During police interviews, Scott admitted, “I knew I shouldn’t have come, I knew it was wrong.”

Scott’s criminal history includes a previous conviction in 2012 for raping a woman during their first date after meeting online. He was sentenced to four and a half years in prison for that assault, which involved locking the victim in a room and biting her during the attack.

In court, prosecutor Paul Rowland detailed the nature of Scott’s online communications, emphasizing that Scott was aware of Jess’s age but continued to pursue sexual contact. The messages retrieved from his phone confirmed his intentions, including the sending of explicit images and references to sexual acts he wished to perform.

Scott, residing on Westmoreland Avenue in Newbiggin-by-the-Sea, pleaded guilty to attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming. Judge Deborah Sherwin sentenced him to three years in prison, with an extended license period of three additional years. She also imposed a lifelong sexual harm prevention order and mandated that Scott register as a sex offender.

Judge Sherwin expressed concern over the risk Scott posed, describing him as a dangerous offender. She stated, “There is a significant risk that you will offend again. Jessie made it quite clear she was 13, and you continued to communicate with her. Of course, Jessie did not exist, but you were not to know this. It seems clear to me that had Jessie been real, you would have met her intending to engage in sexual activity, including penetrative acts.”

Defense solicitor Jennifer Coxon argued that Scott’s initial contact was made through an adult website and that he did not set out to communicate with a child. She also expressed Scott’s willingness to comply with future court orders and disputed the assertion that he posed a danger to the public.

This case underscores the ongoing efforts of groups like Dark Justice, which have reportedly made over 90 arrests, secured 43 convictions, and handed down 20 jail sentences through their undercover operations. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the persistent threat posed by online predators and the importance of vigilance in protecting minors from exploitation.