JOHN DALE FROM WEST MOOR SENTENCED FOR ONLINE SEXUAL OFFENCES INVOLVING CHILDREN IN NEWCASTLE

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of West Moor and the wider Newcastle area, John Dale, a 56-year-old resident of Sharon Close, West Moor, North Tyneside, has been convicted and sentenced for engaging in highly inappropriate and illegal online communications with individuals he believed to be underage girls. The incident, which took place in January 2019, involved Dale attempting to initiate sexual conversations with what he thought were two young girls aged 11 and 14, but who were in fact operatives from paedophile hunter groups.

Despite being under a strict sexual offences prevention order since 2012—an order that explicitly prohibited him from having any contact with minors—Dale continued to pursue illicit online interactions. The court heard that he had previously been imprisoned for causing a child to engage in sexual activity online, a conviction that underscored the seriousness of his criminal behavior. Nevertheless, in 2019, he reached out to profiles that appeared to be young girls, but which were actually set up by vigilant groups aiming to catch predators.

Newcastle Crown Court was informed that Dale sent a series of highly inappropriate messages to these fake profiles, which the judge described as “persistent and disgusting.” The court heard that Dale’s actions were not only illegal but also deeply depraved, especially considering his prior convictions and the fact that he was under a sexual harm prevention order at the time.

Judge Tim Gittins sentenced Dale to three years in prison. Additionally, he was ordered to register as a sex offender for life and was subject to a sexual harm prevention order. The judge emphasized the gravity of Dale’s conduct, stating, “The behaviour, depraved and disgusting enough as it is, is all the more serious because it was committed while you were subjected to a sexual offences prevention order.”

He further explained, “I am satisfied, had the child been real in either of the discussions you were entering into with those profiles, then the risk of very serious harm was substantial, if not overwhelming. I am satisfied you continue to pose a risk of causing serious harm.”

Prosecutor Philip Morley detailed the extent of Dale’s misconduct, revealing that in January 2019, Dale sent a fake 14-year-old profile thirty images, including pictures of male genitals and sex toys. He discussed the possibility of meeting the girl but ultimately canceled the arrangement. Morley described the conversations as “sexualised throughout,” with Dale talking about having sexual intercourse.

The court also learned that the group behind the fake profile alerted police, leading to Dale’s arrest. During a search of his phone, officers discovered another conversation with an 11-year-old profile, also created by the paedophile hunter group. The chat logs revealed that the girl had disclosed her age as 11, yet Dale continued to communicate with her and even asked to see pictures of her private parts.

Further evidence showed that Dale had downloaded two indecent images of children onto his phone, one of which was classified as the most serious category. Dale pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity, attempting sexual communication with a child, breaching his sexual harm prevention order, and possessing indecent images of children.

His actions have been met with widespread condemnation, highlighting the ongoing risks posed by individuals who seek to exploit and harm minors through online platforms. The case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of vigilance and strict enforcement of laws designed to protect children from sexual abuse and exploitation.