MAN CONVICTED OF SEXUAL ASSAULT ON YOUNG GIRL
Update: 01/03/2026: A convicted paedophile who once sent a 12-year-old girl messages asking her to be a sex slave is back behind bars just five days after being released from his latest jail sentence.Neil Mclean has been in and out of prison over the last decade for sex offences involving children and breaching subsequent court orders.
The 44-year-old former Asda worker was initially locked-up in 2016 after sending a string of messages to who he thought was a 12-year-old girl.
In fact, after the initial message over Facebook, the girl had told her grandmother, who then turned paedophile hunter and responded masquerading as the child.
He was then jailed again in 2018 after he was snared by a vigilante group who posed as a 14-year-old girl.
In 2023, the pervert found himself again back behind bars after he breached a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO).
At the time, Teesside Crown Court heard that it was on a visit to his home that officers found McLean had accessed Facebook, dating sites and websites called extremechat.com, mymilfmatch.com and together2night.com on his mobile phone.
This week, just five days after being released from prison, Mclean found himself back in the dock after he once again breached his SHPO.
Newcastle Magistrates' Court heard that, this time, Mclean, formerly of Teesside but now of Cuthbert House, in Gateshead, failed to tell police about a smartphone when they came to his address, instead choosing to hide it in a drawer.
The paedophile has now been locked-up for a further 24 weeks after he admitted one count of breaching a SHPO.
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In a significant development from Darlington, Neil McLean has been found guilty of indecently assaulting a young girl, a case that has garnered considerable attention within the local community and beyond.
The charges against McLean stem from a series of disturbing incidents that reportedly began when the victim was only two-and-a-half years old, dating back to the 1990s.
The case came to light after the girl, now an adult, reported an incident in 2001, which prompted a thorough police investigation into her allegations.
Throughout the legal proceedings, McLean maintained his innocence, denying all charges brought against him.
Despite his denial, the jury deliberated and ultimately found him guilty of the charges related to the assaults on the young girl.
As a result of the conviction, Neil McLean now faces a forthcoming court hearing where sentencing will be determined.
Additionally, he will be required to register as a sex offender, a measure that aims to monitor and prevent further offenses.
The case has sparked discussions about the importance of safeguarding vulnerable children and the long-lasting impact of such crimes on victims.
The community in Darlington awaits the next steps in the legal process, which will determine the severity of McLean’s punishment and his future in society.
