SCOTT SWINDLE FROM HETTON AND NEWCASTLE SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEX OFFENSES

In a disturbing case that has shocked the communities of Hetton and Newcastle, Scott Swindle, a 34-year-old carer, has been sentenced to 15 months in prison following his involvement in a series of heinous online sexual offenses targeting a decoy posing as a 14-year-old girl.

Swindle’s criminal activities came to light after he engaged in a series of explicit conversations and video calls with what he believed was a teenage girl. Unbeknownst to him, the individual he was communicating with was a member of the vigilante group Child Online Safety Team, operating under a false identity on social media and dating app Skout.

According to court reports, Swindle initiated contact on December 16, 2019, using a fake profile under the alias ‘Chris’. His first message was a casual “hi, how are you today?”, but it quickly escalated to more explicit and inappropriate exchanges. Within minutes, he asked if she was “horny” and inquired about her sexual preferences, including whether she was bisexual and if she had ever had a boyfriend.

Prosecutor Kevin Wardlaw detailed the disturbing nature of the messages, noting that Swindle asked if she wanted a boyfriend or had kissed anyone outside her family, and whether she was a virgin. He then pressed her about losing her virginity, sending images of his own genitals and making explicit comments such as “inside you though”.

Swindle also expressed a desire for a threesome involving his girlfriend, suggesting that the teenager come to his home for sexual activities. He explicitly asked if she wanted to have sex, including asking if he could “lick her p****” and stating he intended to “f*** her all over”. During the conversations, he encouraged her to masturbate and offered to help her reach orgasm, despite knowing she was underage.

Further evidence emerged when Swindle switched to video calls, during which he masturbated while believing he was engaging with a 14-year-old girl. These acts were performed at various locations, including his place of work as a carer. His actions were ultimately exposed on January 5 of the following year when he inadvertently revealed his face during a video call. The decoy was able to capture a screenshot, which identified his employer through the emblem on his shirt.

Following this discovery, police were contacted, and officers swiftly arrested Swindle. During police interviews, he admitted to the charges, which included attempting to engage in sexual communication with a minor and attempting to cause a child to watch a sexual act.

In the aftermath of his arrest, Swindle’s life has been significantly disrupted. His home in Hetton was ransacked after repeated break-ins, and he has since been living in a hotel in Newcastle. His partner has left him, and he has lost his job as a carer. The court’s sentencing reflects the severity of his offenses, emphasizing the dangers posed by online predators and the importance of safeguarding minors from exploitation.