SHIREMOOR MAN ANTHONY MORGAN CAUGHT BY DARK JUSTICE TRYING TO MEET CHILD AT NEWCASTLE CENTRAL STATION

In a disturbing case that highlights the dangers of online grooming and vigilantism, Anthony Morgan, a 51-year-old resident of Lesbury Avenue in Shiremoor, North Tyneside, has been sentenced to prison after attempting to meet a child for sexual activity. The incident unfolded in August 2015, when Morgan engaged in online conversations with a profile he believed belonged to a 13-year-old girl named 'Amy13'.

Unbeknownst to Morgan, the profile was a decoy created by the Newcastle-based paedophile hunting group Dark Justice, who had set up the account to catch predators attempting to exploit minors. Morgan, under the impression he was communicating with a young girl, proceeded to engage in explicit and inappropriate conversations, pressing her for indecent photographs and discussing plans to meet at Newcastle Central Station.

During their online exchanges, Morgan described what he would be wearing and expressed his desire to carry out sexual acts. Despite Amy13’s repeated clarifications that she was only 13 years old, Morgan continued to pressure her, telling her she was 'too shy' and implying that their meeting was necessary for anything to happen. The conversations revealed a clear pattern of sexual grooming, with Morgan attempting to persuade the girl to meet him in person.

When Morgan arrived at Newcastle Central Station, expecting to meet the girl, he was confronted by members of Dark Justice who had been monitoring the situation. Initially, he attempted to walk away from the scene, but he was quickly detained by police officers who had been alerted to the communications. Morgan’s arrest followed the discovery of the chat logs, which demonstrated his intent to engage in sexual activity with a minor.

At Newcastle Crown Court, Judge Amanda Rippon described Morgan’s actions as a serious breach of trust and a clear attempt at sexual grooming. She highlighted that Morgan had expressed concern about being labeled a 'paedo' and had asked the girl to delete his phone number, indicating awareness of the illicit nature of his intentions. The judge emphasized the pressure Morgan exerted on the fictitious girl, attempting to persuade her to meet him and suggesting that her shyness would hinder her future prospects.

Judge Rippon sentenced Morgan to 21 months in prison for attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming. Additionally, Morgan was handed an indefinite sexual harm prevention order and was ordered to register as a sex offender for the next ten years. In her remarks, the judge made it clear that if the girl had been real, Morgan’s actions would have constituted a serious sexual offence, underscoring the gravity of his conduct and the potential harm he intended to inflict.