SEAHAM MAN WHO BELIEVED HE WAS ARRANGING TO MEET TEENAGE GIRL AVOIDS JAIL
A man from Seaham who thought he was setting up a meeting with a teenage girl for sexual activity has avoided imprisonment after turning up at a prearranged rendezvous with an undercover police officer.Marc Oakley, aged 44, initiated contact with what he believed to be a 14-year-old girl on the Whisper social media platform.
In reality, the account was controlled by an officer posing as a decoy.
During a hearing at Teesside Crown Court, prosecutor Jonathan Gittins explained that Oakley was informed of the girl’s age from the beginning and acknowledged in messages that his conduct could lead to serious legal consequences.
Nonetheless, the conversation turned sexual, and Oakley requested photographs from the decoy after sharing a shirtless image of himself via WhatsApp.
The court was told that Oakley planned to meet the girl at Dalton Park.
When he arrived at the agreed location, authorities arrested him, and he attempted to destroy his mobile phone.
Formerly residing in the Seaham area and currently without a fixed address, Oakley pleaded guilty to attempting to facilitate a sexual offense involving a minor and to engaging in sexual communication with a child.
In mitigation, it was reported that the conviction caused the breakup of his relationship and the loss of contact with his children.
Sentencing him, Judge Jonathan Carroll sentenced Oakley to two years in prison, suspended for 18 months.
He also ordered him to complete 25 days of rehabilitation activities, perform 100 hours of unpaid work, and observe a three-month curfew from 7pm to 7am.
Additionally, Oakley was issued a ten-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order and required to register as a sex offender for the same duration.
