MALCOLM GRAHAM FROM ARTICLAVE AND COLERAINE SENTENCED FOR ONLINE SEX OFFENCES IN ANTRIM

Malcolm Graham, a man with connections to Articlave and Coleraine, has been sentenced to a year in prison following his conviction on charges related to attempted online sexual communication with a minor and a breach of a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO).

Graham, aged 38, appeared at Antrim Crown Court via video link from prison to face these charges. The court was informed that in 2022, an undercover law enforcement officer posed as a 14-year-old boy on various online platforms. During this covert operation, Graham engaged in conversations that included highly sexualized comments directed at the fictitious minor.

When the officer revealed that he was in contact with a 14-year-old, Graham responded with a nonchalant 'OK cool.' It was also noted that Graham had previously been subject to a SOPO issued by Antrim Crown Court in 2020, which prohibited him from contacting children unless he had a reasonable excuse. This prior order was related to a sexual assault conviction.

In May 2023, Graham was arrested at his residence, located on Dunboe Road, and two electronic devices were seized during the investigation. He subsequently pleaded guilty to the charges of attempting to communicate sexually with a minor and breaching the existing SOPO.

As part of his sentencing, the court imposed a one-year term, with half of it to be served in custody and the remaining six months on supervised release. Additionally, a new five-year SOPO was established, restricting Graham from any unsupervised contact with children under the age of 16, apart from his own children. He was also placed on the Sex Offenders' Register for a period of ten years.

Judge Alistair Devlin emphasized the seriousness of online offenses, stating that the absence of physical contact does not diminish the gravity of such crimes. The court's stance underscores the importance of addressing the risks associated with online predatory behavior, regardless of the medium used.

In a separate incident dating back to May 2019, Malcolm Graham, then aged 32 and residing in Articlave, appeared before Antrim Crown Court to face allegations of sexual assault against a 13-year-old boy. Graham, who was familiar with the child's mother, had taken the boy on a hunting trip in January 2018. He falsely claimed that two other males known to the mother would also be present.

Upon arriving at the designated location, Graham instructed the boy to wait in the back of his van, which had been converted to include a blow-up mattress. During this time, Graham pressured the boy to drink vodka, despite the boy’s initial refusal. After the boy sipped the alcohol and spat it out, Graham believed the boy had passed out drunk. He then straddled the boy and placed his hand inside the boy’s shorts, an act the boy was unaware of as he was still in a state of shock.

Later, the boy awoke to find Graham attempting to masturbate him, having again placed his hand inside the boy’s shorts. The boy, frightened and far from home, feigned sleep in hopes of avoiding further contact. The following morning, Graham returned the boy to his home, where the boy confided in his mother about the assault.

Graham was confronted and questioned by the mother, who reported the incident to the police. Graham initially denied the allegations but later changed his plea to guilty just two days before the trial was scheduled to commence. The prosecution argued that Graham had deliberately lied to isolate the boy and intoxicate him to facilitate the molestation.

In sentencing, the court imposed a two-year probation order, required Graham to register as a sex offender for five years, and prohibited him from having any unsupervised contact with children under 16, other than his own children. The judge’s decision reflects the court’s recognition of the severity of grooming and sexual abuse of minors, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding vulnerable children from predatory behavior.