DANIEL BATEMAN OF DARLINGTON JAILED FOR ONLINE PAEDOPHILIA
A convicted paedophile operating online has been sentenced to prison after being caught by an undercover officer from Darlington Police.Daniel Bateman, 30, from Birch Road, Darlington, unknowingly engaged in a conversation with an officer posing as another online paedophile on the social messaging app Kik.
During their interaction, Bateman sent an indecent image of a child and then suggested they meet up to have sex with children.
He was subsequently arrested and charged with distributing an indecent image and arranging or facilitating a child sex offence.
While Bateman admitted to distributing the indecent image, he denied the second charge.
Nonetheless, a jury at Teesside Crown Court found him guilty of the latter.
On Monday, January 24, Bateman was sentenced to three years in prison.
In addition to his prison term, he was handed a ten-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order and will remain on the Sex Offenders Register indefinitely.
Detective Constable Pat Finn of Durham Constabulary led the investigation and commented: "Bateman is a dangerous and deceitful individual, who sought to realize his depraved fantasies by trying to meet with other like-minded paedophiles for the purpose of abusing children.
He has shown no remorse during the trial, and he is now behind bars where he belongs.
He no longer poses a serious sexual risk to children." Police urge anyone experiencing sexual abuse to seek help.
"You are not alone, and there are people who can support you.
Please come forward and speak to us—no matter who the perpetrator is or when the abuse happened.
Our specially trained officers are here to help you and ensure you receive justice." If you are in immediate danger or need urgent assistance, contact 999.
For non-urgent matters, call 101.
