PRAJU PRASAD CAUGHT IN NORTH SHIELDS BY CHILD PROTECTION TEAM AFTER PLEA FOR MERCY

In July 2017, a disturbing incident unfolded in North Shields involving Praju Prasad, a 24-year-old man whose actions have shocked the local community and highlighted the ongoing dangers posed by online predators. Prasad, who resides in North Shields, was actively engaged in conversations with what he believed was a 12-year-old girl on social media platforms. However, he was unaware that he was actually communicating with members of the vigilant online group known as Guardians of the North, dedicated to protecting children from grooming and exploitation.

Prasad had arranged to meet the supposed young girl at North Shields Metro Station, believing he was about to carry out a sinister act. The Guardians of the North had been monitoring his online activity and, upon his arrival at the station, confronted him with a camera recording the encounter. The footage captured a deeply distressing scene where Prasad, overwhelmed by the situation, fell to his knees and begged the group to leave him alone. His tearful pleas and breakdown underscored the gravity of his intentions and the emotional toll of the confrontation.

Following his arrest and subsequent court proceedings, Prasad was sentenced to nine months in prison, suspended for the same period. He admitted to attempting to meet a girl under the age of 16 with the intent to groom her. In addition to the suspended sentence, he was fined £140 and ordered to register as a sex offender for five years. The court heard that Prasad initially tried to book a hotel for himself and the girl, but was told that no accommodation would accept a man traveling with a child. This led him to agree to meet her at North Shields Metro Station instead.

During the exchange of messages, Prasad expressed disturbing intentions, stating that he wanted to 'kiss' and 'fulfill' the girl, and even suggested they 'take a room' to 'have some fun.' These messages revealed his predatory mindset and intent to exploit the minor. The Guardians of the North team confronted him with the statement: 'You are here to meet a 12-year-old girl for sex.' In response, Prasad desperately pleaded: 'Please, leave me alone. Please, I beg you. Please, I beg you.'

After the case, a representative from Guardians of the North emphasized the importance of their work, stating, 'This highlights the important work that we do. If this man hadn’t been caught by us then he could well have gone on to abuse an actual child.' The group expressed dissatisfaction with the leniency of the sentence, asserting that tougher penalties are necessary to prevent such offenders from escalating to more serious crimes and to protect children from further harm.