CRAMLINGTON SEX OFFENDER LUKE STODDART REARRESTED JUST DAYS AFTER RELEASE FROM PRISON

In a disturbing case that highlights the ongoing threat posed by convicted sex offenders, Luke Stoddart, a 22-year-old man from Cramlington, Northumberland, was caught in a sting operation conducted by the paedophile hunting group known as Geordie Chasers. This incident occurred merely three days after his release from prison, raising serious concerns about the effectiveness of monitoring and rehabilitation efforts for offenders of this nature.

Stoddart had been released on October 5, 2018, after serving time for a previous conviction related to a sexual attack on a minor. Despite his recent release, he was quickly found to be engaging in online communications with what he believed was a young girl. Unbeknownst to him, the profile he was messaging was a decoy created by the Geordie Chasers, a group dedicated to catching individuals attempting to exploit children.

The footage captured during the operation shows Stoddart making contact with the decoy profile, and the conversation rapidly devolved into explicit and inappropriate discussions. He was completely unaware that the person he was communicating with was an undercover decoy, designed to lure offenders into incriminating themselves. His intent appeared to be to arrange a meeting with a minor for sexual purposes.

According to court records, Stoddart, who resides on Fern Avenue in Cramlington, was already a convicted sex offender. He had previously been imprisoned in September 2016 for attacking a 16-year-old girl in the back of his car, where child locks had been activated to prevent her escape. During that same period, he was grooming a 15-year-old girl, showering her with gifts such as a mobile phone, clothing, jewelry, cigarettes, and alcohol, and providing her with more money than she could handle. When she rejected his advances, he became aggressive, threatening to reveal her secrets to her friends and family and even threatening self-harm as a form of coercion.

In the recent case, during a brief court hearing at South East Northumberland Magistrates’ Court, Stoddart pleaded guilty to two counts of attempting to contact a minor with the intent to meet for sexual activity. The dates of these offences ranged from October 8 to October 24, 2018. Prosecutor James Long stated that Stoddart believed he was communicating with a 13-year-old girl and initially claimed he wanted only to be friends. However, as the conversations progressed, they quickly turned to sexual topics. Evidence also indicated that he attempted to delete messages to conceal his intentions.

The court was informed that Stoddart was subject to a strict online activity order at the time of these offences, which was meant to restrict his internet use and prevent further offending. His defense solicitor, Graham Crouch, concurred with the Crown that the case should be transferred to Newcastle Crown Court for sentencing. Magistrates, however, expressed their concern about his risk to the public and ordered that he be remanded into custody immediately, citing the potential for further offences.

Stoddart is scheduled to appear at Newcastle Crown Court on November 23 for sentencing. His criminal history, combined with the recent offences, underscores the ongoing danger he poses to the community and the importance of vigilant monitoring of convicted sex offenders, especially those with a history of grooming and assaulting minors.