DARREN GEE FROM TUNSTALL SENTENCED FOR ONLINE CHILD SEXUAL EXPLOITATION IN STOKE-ON-TRENT

In August 2021, Darren Gee, a resident of Tunstall, found himself at the center of a serious criminal case involving online child sexual exploitation. Gee, aged 52, engaged in explicit and predatory conversations with what he believed was a 14-year-old girl, but in reality, he was communicating with a decoy operated by a vigilant group of paedophile hunters. These groups set up fake social media profiles, pretending to be minors, to catch individuals attempting to engage in illegal sexual activities with minors.

According to court proceedings, Gee initiated contact with the decoy, who was posing as a 14-year-old girl named Casey. The conversation began on August 17, 2018, when Gee, giving his name as Daz, disclosed his age and his residence in Stoke-on-Trent. He expressed interest in meeting up and asked if she wanted a date. Casey responded cautiously, mentioning her age and that she had not had a boyfriend before. Despite her hesitations, Gee persisted, asking her again if she wanted to go on a date and suggesting they could meet the following week, even proposing to go to McDonald's.

What followed was a series of highly inappropriate and explicit exchanges. Gee told the decoy that he would like to have sex with her, despite her being only 14. He sent a graphic image of his genitals and encouraged her to send him a picture of her private parts. He also advised her to masturbate multiple times a week, claiming she would enjoy it. When asked if she thought she would be okay with being 14, Gee responded inappropriately, saying, “I think you will love my c***,” and then proceeded to send a picture of himself.

Throughout the conversation, Gee attempted to persuade the decoy that sexual activity would be pleasurable once she got used to it, despite her age. He explicitly asked her to open her legs, remove her pants, and play with her private parts, further emphasizing his intent. The communication ended on September 9, 2018, but the danger was not over.

In October 2018, Gee was confronted at his home by another group of paedophile hunters known as Soul Survivors. They streamed the confrontation live on social media before alerting the police. Following this, Gee was arrested, and his mobile phone was seized and thoroughly examined. Authorities discovered he had a Kik account, where he had expressed fantasies involving a girl aged 14. During police interviews, Gee admitted to engaging in conversations with the decoy girl, stating that he had done so while drinking and that he felt ashamed of his actions.

Gee, of Nash Peake Street in Tunstall, pleaded guilty to charges of attempting to cause or incite a child to engage in sexual activity and attempting to communicate sexually with a child. His actions led to significant consequences, including the loss of his job at a pottery factory in Stoke-on-Trent.

In sentencing at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court, Judge Paul Glenn highlighted the severity of Gee’s conduct. He pointed out that Gee was undeterred by the girl’s assertion of her age and continued to make proposals for meeting up, describing explicit sexual acts and sending explicit images, including one of his own genitals. The judge emphasized Gee’s clear sexual attraction to children and noted that his intoxication was no excuse for his behavior.

As part of his sentence, Gee was ordered to complete a 55-day rehabilitation activity requirement, adhere to a four-month electronically monitored curfew from 9 pm to 6 am, and undergo a 12-month alcohol treatment program. Additionally, he was placed under a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) for five years and registered as a sex offender for ten years. He is also barred from engaging in activities involving children and vulnerable adults.

Judge Glenn remarked on the case’s seriousness, stating, “Children need to be protected from those who seek to take sexual advantage of them, and the internet sometimes provides the means by which people do that.” He acknowledged that although Gee was not immediately sent to prison, the sentence reflected the gravity of his actions and the delays in prosecution, which he described as “utterly ridiculous.” The court’s decision underscores the importance of safeguarding minors from online predators and the ongoing efforts to combat such crimes.