GARY HORN FROM STANLEY CAUGHT IN SICK ONLINE CHAT WITH CHILD IN COUNTY DURHAM

In May 2020, a disturbing case emerged involving Gary Horn, a resident of Garden Terrace in Stanley, County Durham, who engaged in a series of highly inappropriate and illegal online communications with someone he believed to be a 12-year-old girl. The incident highlighted the dangers of online predators and the importance of vigilant law enforcement and community efforts to protect minors.

Horn initiated contact through a social media platform, where he believed he was speaking to a young girl. Unbeknownst to him, the profile he was communicating with was a decoy created by paedophile hunters aiming to catch individuals attempting to exploit children. Despite being informed of the girl’s age, Horn responded in a shockingly casual and inappropriate manner, saying, “Sorry, I thought you were older, my bad, fancy a f***?”

Following this initial exchange, Horn continued the conversation on WhatsApp, where he escalated his inappropriate requests. He asked the supposed girl to watch pornography and to send him images of herself dressed in revealing or “sexy” clothing. The chat revealed Horn’s disturbing intentions and his willingness to engage in sexualized conversations with someone he believed was a child.

It was only after Horn claimed to have a conscience and decided to cease contact that the online vigilante group confronted him. The group, which had set up the decoy profile, confronted Horn at his home address in front of his partner and young child, bringing the disturbing case to a close.

Gary Horn faced the court in Newcastle, where he pleaded guilty to attempting to communicate sexually with a child. The court heard that the exchanges began on May 6 of the previous year, after Horn made contact with the decoy profile created by the Child Online Safety Team. Despite being told the girl’s age, Horn continued to pursue the conversation, asking if she “fancied a f***” and moving the chat to WhatsApp.

Prosecutor Jolyon Perks detailed the nature of Horn’s messages, which included requests for the girl to dress up and send photos, as well as asking if she wanted to have sex. When the girl indicated uncertainty, Horn encouraged her to watch pornography, further demonstrating his predatory intent.

After two days of communication, Horn severed contact but was later confronted by the online vigilante group at his residence. As part of his sentence, Horn was ordered to sign the Sex Offenders’ Register for ten years and was subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for the same period. Judge Amanda Rippon sentenced him to nine months in prison, suspended for two years, emphasizing the severity of his actions and the potential lifelong harm caused by such offenses.