PAEDOPHILE CAUGHT AFTER REPORTING GIRL ABUSE FEARS
A paedophile was caught after he reported his own concerns about a 14-year-old girl being abused.Daniel Robson, 46, contacted officers to say he believed an American teenager he was talking with online was being molested by relatives, Newcastle Crown Court was told.
Officers quickly realised Robson himself had been sending the girl sexual messages, while a search of his phone revealed a stash of images of girls as young as five being raped and "disturbing" conversations he had with other child abusers.
Robson, from Newcastle, was jailed for two years suspended for two years after admitting online child sex offences.
Judge Carolyn Scott said it was "unusual" how Robson's offending came to light.
She said Robson phoned police on 24 January 2024 to say he had been talking online to a girl in the USA and was worried about her.
Robson was "concerned" as the 14-year-old had told him about alleged sexual offences committed against her by family members, the judge said.
But after examining the conversation on his phone, it was immediately apparent Robson had also been sending the girl sexual messages.
Officers also found 124 indecent images of children, including 84 in the most serious category.
They also uncovered "disturbing discussions" Robson had been having on Kik with other paedophiles, sharing indecent images, and talking about what he wanted to do to a child.
The judge noted that such offences would usually lead to immediate imprisonment, but Robson was having a mental health crisis at the time and had sought help.
He was assessed by probation officers as having a "realistic prospect of rehabilitation in the community." Robson was ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work, attend sessions with probation officers, comply with a sexual harm prevention order, and sign the sex offenders register for 10 years.
