DAVID DUTHIE FROM ASPATRIA JAILED FOR CHILD SEX OFFENSES IN INTERNET STING

In a case that has shocked the local community of Aspatria, David Duthie, a 47-year-old lorry driver, has been sentenced to three years in prison after his online child sex crimes were exposed through an extensive internet sting operation.

Over the course of a month, Duthie engaged in persistent and highly sexualized conversations within chat rooms, believing he was communicating with a 12-year-old girl. These interactions were characterized by graphic language and explicit content, highlighting the disturbing nature of his online activity.

However, it was later revealed that Duthie was not speaking with a minor at all. Instead, he was communicating with an adult who was part of an online child protection team, set up to catch individuals attempting to exploit children online. This operation was part of a broader effort to combat online child abuse and involved meticulous monitoring and recording of conversations.

The confrontation with Duthie took place in October at his workplace in Aspatria. The incident was captured and streamed live on Facebook, drawing significant attention to the case. Authorities had collected a substantial amount of evidence, including 450 pages of chat screenshots that detailed Duthie’s sexualized exchanges.

At Carlisle Crown Court, Duthie pleaded guilty to eight separate charges. These included five counts of attempting to cause a child under the age of 13 to engage in sexual activity, two counts of attempting to cause a child to watch a sexual act, and one count of attempted sexual communication with a child. His actions were deemed serious violations of the law, reflecting a clear intent to exploit and harm minors.

Judge James Adkin sentenced Duthie to three years in prison, emphasizing the gravity of his offenses. The judge also noted with relief that no actual child was exposed to his disturbing chatter, stating, “No real child, fortunately, had to view your relentless sexualized chatter.”

In addition to his prison sentence, Duthie was ordered to sign the sex offenders’ register for life and must adhere to a strict sexual harm prevention order. These measures are designed to monitor and restrict his activities to prevent any future offenses, underscoring the seriousness with which the justice system views such crimes.