GOSPORT PAEDOPHILE IAN SKITTLETHORPE CAUGHT IN DARK JUSTICE STING AT PORTSMOUTH CROWN COURT

In a disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through the community of Gosport, Hampshire, 58-year-old Ian Skittlethorpe found himself at the center of a serious criminal investigation involving online predatory behavior and child exploitation. The incident unfolded after online vigilantes, known as Dark Justice, set up a sting operation by posing as a 13-year-old girl named Amy, aiming to catch individuals attempting to engage in illegal activities with minors.

Skittlethorpe, who believed he was communicating with a young girl from Newcastle, initiated contact with the fake account and quickly entered into a highly inappropriate and sexualized conversation. Over the course of several days, he expressed his desire to have sexual relations with the girl, revealing disturbing details about his past and intentions. Prosecutor Tom Wright detailed that Skittlethorpe boasted about having traveled abroad to abuse children and expressed an interest in girls as young as ten.

During the exchanges, Skittlethorpe asked for explicit photographs, urging the fictitious girl to remove her underwear, and even discussed having sex with a dog, highlighting the severity of his predatory mindset. The messages also included him discussing his past sexual experiences, including taking the virginity of a 13-year-old girl and engaging in consensual intercourse with other young people.

Authorities were alerted when Skittlethorpe admitted to having access to two children, prompting police to investigate further. Although he avoided immediate jail time following his appearance at Portsmouth Crown Court, he faced serious charges. Skittlethorpe pleaded guilty to two counts of attempting to cause a child to engage in sexual activity, as well as ten counts of possessing indecent images. Additionally, he admitted to possessing extreme pornography and distributing an indecent image, some of which fell under the most severe Category A classification, indicating the worst forms of abuse.

Despite deleting WhatsApp from his phone, police forensic analysis uncovered 13 indecent images stored on his device. His defense lawyer, Daniel Reilly, expressed that Skittlethorpe felt profound shame and regret for his actions, claiming he had disposed of all his internet-enabled devices to prevent further misconduct.

In sentencing, Recorder Anne Arnold described the case as ‘troubling’ and handed Skittlethorpe an 80-week prison sentence, suspended for two years. She also ordered him to register as a sex offender for ten years and imposed a sexual harm prevention order, which prohibits him from contacting children or using internet devices without police oversight for the same period. Furthermore, Skittlethorpe was mandated to complete 25 hours of rehabilitation and participate in a sex offenders’ group program, aiming to address his offending behavior and prevent future harm to children.