ASHINGTON MAN DAVID CHARLTON CAUGHT IN DISTURBING ONLINE SEX CHAT WITH POLICE DECOY FROM NEWCASTLE

In February 2021, an alarming case emerged involving a man from Ashington named David Charlton, who became entangled in a disturbing online sexual communication with what he believed was a 13-year-old girl. The incident unfolded through an undercover police operation aimed at catching individuals attempting to engage in illicit conversations with minors.

Charlton, who used the alias “older perv,” initiated contact via the messaging platform Kik, where he believed he was speaking to a young girl named Ava. Unbeknownst to him, the profile was a police decoy operated by authorities from Newcastle, designed specifically to identify and apprehend predators seeking to exploit children online.

During the exchanges, Charlton expressed his attraction to girls of her age, explicitly discussing sexual acts and asking whether she would be interested in meeting in person. The court heard that he was quite explicit in his language, even suggesting a sexual act he could perform on her if they met. When the decoy mentioned that she was pretending to be sick and off school, Charlton inquired if he could visit her and continued to push for a sexual encounter.

Prosecutor Geraldine Kelly revealed that Charlton’s suspicions grew when he suspected the profile might be run by a man, fearing he could be blackmailed. However, his fears were alleviated when the decoy sent a photograph of a girl in pyjamas, claiming to be the 13-year-old Ava. Charlton then asked for her mobile number to verify her identity and persisted with the inappropriate sexual conversation.

He went as far as to describe wanting to rip off her school uniform and expressed a desire to meet her, even mentioning touching her. The court was shown evidence that Charlton sent a picture of his genitals and continued to discuss sexual acts, demonstrating his intent to pursue a real-life meeting. He also asked to meet the girl the following day.

When arrested, Charlton claimed he was merely fantasizing and did not believe he was speaking to a real child. The 43-year-old resident of Monkseaton Terrace, Ashington, who had no prior convictions, pleaded guilty to attempting to engage in sexual communication with a minor.

Judge Julie Clemitson sentenced him to a three-year community order, imposed a fine of £500, and issued a sexual harm prevention order. Addressing Charlton directly, the judge remarked on his apparent shame upon hearing the details of his actions, emphasizing the gravity of the case. She pointed out that he believed he was communicating with a 13-year-old girl, but in reality, it was a police officer. The judge condemned his conduct as revolting, highlighting the explicit nature of his conversations and suggesting he may have been engaging in sexual activity himself during the chats.