ANDREW TOON FROM CHESTER-LE-STREET SENTENCED FOR PREDATORY SEX OFFENCES IN DURHAM

In a disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through the community of Chester-Le-Street and the wider Durham area, Andrew Toon, aged 32, has been convicted and sentenced for a series of heinous sexual offences involving minors. The court heard that Toon, who has no fixed address, engaged in a pattern of predatory behavior that included online grooming, possession of indecent images, and encouraging underage girls to perform sexual acts via social media platforms.

According to court proceedings, Toon used an iPad to initiate contact with a 12-year-old girl, a victim who was described as having the 'gross misfortune' of crossing paths with him. During police interviews, Toon admitted to sending indecent images through Skype and engaging in online chats with underage girls, where he urged them to perform sex acts on themselves. These revelations came to light after police investigations uncovered his activities, which included the possession of a significant number of indecent images and extreme pornography.

Judge Jonathan Carroll, presiding over the case at Durham Crown Court, delivered a stern sentence, emphasizing the severity of Toon’s actions. He stated, “You were able to contact her because you had an iPad which you had not declared to police as required under an existing sexual harm prevent order. With a significant degree of planning, you set about finding a child for your own personal sexual gratification.” The judge also highlighted the emotional impact on the victim, noting her statement that described the harm she suffered with remarkable clarity. The victim’s mother described Toon as “every parent’s worst nightmare,” a sentiment the judge fully concurred with.

Given Toon’s extensive criminal history, which includes previous convictions for similar offenses, the judge characterized him as a persistent and determined serial paedophile. He declared that Toon remains a sexually dangerous individual. Toon pleaded guilty to nine counts, including causing a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity, sexual activity in the presence of a child, possession and creation of indecent images, and breaching a sexual harm prevention order. As a result, he was sentenced to 12 years in prison, with an additional six years on extended license, and was placed under an indefinite sexual harm order to protect the public.

Toon’s criminal record dates back several years. In 2016, he received a suspended sentence after admitting to 16 counts of making indecent images of a child, along with charges of possession and distribution of such material. He also admitted causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual acts and possessing extreme pornography. His previous convictions demonstrated a pattern of escalating offending behavior, which the court took into account during sentencing.

Further back, in November 2013, Toon’s case was brought before Durham Crown Court, where it was revealed that he had developed an “abnormal” interest in pornographic material involving children and animals. His activities included viewing indecent images and extreme pornography, which he accessed while drinking at his home. The police investigation was initiated after a tip-off from the Child Exploitation and Online Protection agency (CYOP) in December 2012. The subsequent search of his Chester-Le-Street residence uncovered 196 indecent images of children and 77 scenes of extreme pornography, including acts of bestiality. During police interviews, Toon admitted to sending indecent images via Skype and engaging in online chats with underage girls, urging them to perform sexual acts.

In a related case, Toon, then 27, was sentenced to a two-year suspended prison term after admitting to similar offenses. His defense argued that he was suffering from depression and had started viewing adult pornography more frequently following a breakup. The court also imposed an indefinite sexual offences prevention order and required him to register as a sex offender for seven years. Despite the leniency, the court made it clear that Toon’s behavior was deeply troubling and that he posed a significant risk to the community.

Most recently, in April 2016, Toon’s continued offending was acknowledged when he admitted to causing a 12-year-old girl to engage in sexual activity and to possessing indecent images and extreme pornography. His actions, which included breaching the 2013 sexual harm prevention order by contacting a child via social media, led to his current lengthy imprisonment. The court’s decision underscores the seriousness with which such predatory behavior is treated, especially when it involves vulnerable minors and the exploitation of online platforms to facilitate abuse.