GOSFORTH SECURITY WORKER MALCOLM STEPHENSON JAILED FOR SEX CHAT WITH UNDERCOVER COP POSE AS 12-YEAR-OLD GIRL IN NEWCASTLE

In a disturbing case that highlights the ongoing efforts to combat online child exploitation, Malcolm Stephenson, a 63-year-old security guard from Gosforth, Newcastle, has been sentenced to prison after engaging in explicit sexual conversations with an undercover police officer posing as a young girl.

Stephenson, who was employed as a security officer for a Government agency at the time, was caught in a sting operation designed to identify individuals seeking to engage sexually with minors online. The police had set up a profile on Lycos as part of Operation Reveal, a campaign aimed at catching predators attempting to contact children through the internet.

According to court proceedings, Stephenson believed he was communicating with a 12-year-old girl named Emma. Despite being aware of her age, he continued the conversation and shifted the topic towards sexual content. He detailed what he wanted to do to her and expressed his willingness to perform sexual acts on her, revealing a disturbing disregard for the boundaries of age-appropriate conduct.

The court was told that Stephenson’s online alias was Drivendemon58, and he had been actively chatting on the site, which is intended for users over 18, from early August for approximately five weeks. His conversations were initially general but soon turned to more explicit topics. The police revealed that the profile he was communicating with, named Sheffieldlass, claimed to be a young girl who was about to turn 13 the following day.

During the exchanges, Sheffieldlass mentioned her age was actually 12 and had misrepresented her age to encourage Stephenson to buy her gifts, including a dress and underwear. The conversation then escalated to discussions about sexual acts, with Stephenson asking if she had performed such acts before and whether she would do them with him. He also asked to see her private parts and described what he would like to do to her.

Prosecutor David Comb stated that Stephenson showed a clear willingness to engage in sexual activity with a minor, claiming he would provide gifts and incentives to persuade her to participate. The police confirmed that Stephenson expressed a readiness to commit sexual acts with a girl he believed was 12 years old, who claimed to be financially disadvantaged, and he indicated he would offer her gifts to entice her.

Malcolm Stephenson, formerly residing on Hollywood Avenue in Gosforth, pleaded guilty to attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child between August 2 and September 11. His sentencing took place at Newcastle Crown Court, where Recorder Tahir Khan QC emphasized the seriousness of his actions and the importance of sending a clear message that such behavior will not be tolerated.

Judge Khan stated, “You know, as does any right-thinking member of the public, that that sort of behavior was wholly inappropriate. People need to understand that this type of conduct can’t be tolerated and if you engage in this type of serious sexual chat, even if the person is not a child, you must expect to go to prison. This is a case where a message must go out: If you engage in this sort of behavior, you will go to prison.”

As a result, Stephenson was sentenced to 12 months in prison. Additionally, he was placed under a sexual harm prevention order and is required to register as a sex offender. His defense lawyer, Jamie Adams, argued that Stephenson had ended the chat himself and had refused to exchange phone numbers or communicate via Skype with “Emma.”

It was also noted that Stephenson has no prior criminal convictions. His employment history includes a 20-year tenure as a manager at National Car Parks before being made redundant. He later worked in security for HM Revenue & Customs until his recent offending led to the loss of that position.

This case underscores the ongoing efforts by law enforcement to protect children from online predators and the importance of strict sentencing to deter such behavior in the future.