DAVID TAYLOR FROM WHITLEY BAY CAUGHT BREAKING SEXUAL HARM PREVENTION ORDER IN ONLINE CHAT ROOMS

In January 2021, David Taylor, a man from Whitley Bay, found himself back in trouble after being caught breaching a court order designed to prevent him from engaging in certain online activities related to his past offenses. Taylor, who had previously been involved in grooming behaviors, was under a strict Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) issued in 2018 following his imprisonment for attempting to meet a child he believed was an underage girl. The initial case was orchestrated by paedophile hunters from Dark Justice, who had set up a decoy profile on the chat platform chatavenue.com to catch him in the act.

At that time, Taylor, then 45 years old, was caught sending explicit messages to what he thought was a child. The court heard that the SHPO, which was meant to last for ten years, explicitly prohibited him from using false identities or aliases online. Despite this, within just two years of his release from prison, Taylor was found to be violating the order by using two different aliases within the same chat room, raising serious concerns about his compliance and intentions.

Authorities became aware of Taylor’s activities during a routine police visit to his residence on Madeira Avenue in Whitley Bay. During this visit, officers seized his mobile phone for examination. The investigation revealed that Taylor had been messaging a child, although the messages were described as not containing anything explicitly inappropriate. Nevertheless, his actions constituted a breach of the court order, which could lead to further legal consequences.

In court proceedings held at North Tyneside Magistrates’ Court, the prosecution outlined that Taylor had once again used aliases to communicate online, specifically on chatavenue.com, the same platform where he was initially caught by Dark Justice. Prosecutor Glenda Beck explained that Taylor had been using names such as Golf Boy and Sporty Boy, among others, and that his mobile phone showed he had been visiting the site almost daily in the days leading up to his arrest. The court was told that Taylor’s repeated online activity was a clear violation of the terms set out in his SHPO.

During police interviews, Taylor claimed that he could not fully recall the conditions of his court order and stated that he had accessed the chat room out of boredom. Despite his explanations, the court found that his actions demonstrated a blatant disregard for the restrictions imposed upon him. As a result, Taylor now faces the possibility of a jail sentence for breaching the order.

His case was adjourned to allow for the preparation of a pre-sentence report, and he was released on unconditional bail. He is scheduled to return to court on February 17 for further proceedings. The case highlights ongoing concerns about individuals with a history of sexual offenses attempting to circumvent legal restrictions through online platforms, especially in communities like Whitley Bay where such incidents can cause significant public alarm.