JORDAN HOLROYD FROM BILLINGHAM CAUGHT IN PAEDOPHILE HUNTERS' TRAP IN TEESSIDE
In a disturbing case that has shocked the local community, Jordan Holroyd, a 27-year-old man from Stockton, was caught engaging in explicit online conversations with what he believed to be underage girls.The incident unfolded after vigilante groups, including Cobra UK and Predator Exposure, set up decoy profiles on social media platforms to identify individuals attempting to exploit minors.
Holroyd, who has been diagnosed with learning difficulties, autism, and ADHD, believed he was communicating with two girls aged 13 and 14 from the Billingham area, specifically on the SayHi platform.
According to court records, Holroyd initially contacted a decoy profile representing a 13-year-old girl named 'Ruby' in 2018.
The profile included a picture of a young girl purportedly of that age.
On May 2, 2019, Holroyd initiated contact, introducing himself as 'Jordy' and claiming to be 25 years old.
Although the initial conversations on SayHi did not contain sexual content, Holroyd soon asked for a phone number, which he then used to continue the dialogue via WhatsApp.
Over the course of their exchanges, which spanned approximately 95 pages of messages, Holroyd engaged in increasingly explicit conversations.
The messages included questions about what 'Ruby' was wearing, her underwear, and involved roleplay scenarios.
He repeatedly asked her to call him 'daddy,' a term he used in a sexual context.
The messages revealed a pattern of paranoid and erratic behavior from Holroyd, raising concerns about his mental health.
Holroyd was also targeted by a second decoy profile, this time purporting to be a 14-year-old girl named 'Chanel.' Believing he was speaking to a minor from the Billingham area, he followed the same routine—asking for her phone number and later contacting her on WhatsApp.
On June 20, 2018, he requested a photograph from 'Chanel' and again referred to himself as 'daddy.' Once the decoy organizations handed over the evidence to Cleveland Police, Holroyd was arrested and taken into custody.
During police interviews, he initially remained silent but later admitted to sending the messages after being shown the evidence.
He expressed regret, stating he wished he had not sent such messages.
Holroyd, who previously resided at Kennedy Gardens in Billingham and was now living on Yarm Road in Stockton, had no prior criminal convictions.
His case was brought before Teesside Crown Court, where he pleaded guilty to three child sex offences, including attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity and two counts of attempting to communicate sexually with a minor.
Judge Tim Stead sentenced Holroyd to 16 months in prison, suspended for two years.
The judge warned him that any further misconduct could result in immediate imprisonment.
Additionally, Holroyd was placed under a sexual harm prevention order for five years and was required to notify authorities of his whereabouts and activities for the next decade.
Earlier, in April 2021, Holroyd appeared at the same court, admitting to similar charges.
His defense attorney, Nigel Soppitt, highlighted possible mental health issues and requested a psychiatric assessment before sentencing.
Judge Stephen Ashurst scheduled the sentencing for June 18, 2021, allowing Holroyd to remain on bail until then, but made it clear that the court would decide the severity of his punishment based on the forthcoming reports.
The case continues to serve as a stark reminder of the ongoing efforts to combat online child exploitation in the Billingham and wider Teesside area.
