SIMON MALLEN FROM ALNWICK SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEX RING PLOT IN NORTHUMBERLAND

In January 2023, a disturbing case emerged involving Simon Mallen, a man from Alnwick, Northumberland, who was convicted of orchestrating a heinous child sex ring and planning a series of sexual abuse events involving minors and animals. The case revealed a shocking duality: on the surface, Mallen appeared to be a respectable, well-educated individual with a stable job and a decent family background. However, beneath this facade lurked a deeply disturbed individual with a manipulative and sociopathic nature, harboring violent and deviant fantasies.

Simon Mallen, aged 39 at the time of his arrest, was employed as a technical manager at TI Geosciences in Blyth and resided in the Christon Bank area of Alnwick. Despite his outward appearance of normalcy, court proceedings uncovered a dark and twisted personality. Prosecutor Anne Richardson described Mallen as someone who, in her words, was “manipulative, a man without emotion, and a sociopath,” who also admitted to enjoying humiliating those with whom he engaged sexually. The court heard that Mallen was a deeply damaged individual who sought to inflict harm on others, especially vulnerable women, for his own sexual gratification.

For years prior to his arrest, Mallen had been in contact with various women through online platforms. He quickly moved from casual online conversations to explicit sexualized messaging, often revealing his disturbing fantasies. Miss Richardson emphasized that these conversations, some dating back to 2013, were relevant because they demonstrated Mallen’s objective of impregnating women so he could sexually abuse any children they might have. He made it clear to these women that he was serious about his intentions, and he would end discussions if they refused to comply.

The court revealed that Mallen’s deviant desires extended to animals and children. During an online chat with an undercover police officer named Jo, Mallen openly expressed a preference for children over women or dogs, stating that children were “the one thing that gets the synapses firing every time.” He further explained that once he started abusing children, he believed it was “Pandora’s box,” implying he thought he could not stop. Mallen also expressed a desire to involve his dogs, a Labrador and a Hungarian Vizsla, in sexual activities with girls, revealing his disturbing mindset.

Plans for a child sex ring party were uncovered, with Mallen purchasing various items for the event. These included a princess play tent, children’s toys, sex toys, anti-slip dog paw protectors, a paddling pool, bubble bath, and a toy cleaner. He discussed with the undercover officer, Jo, the logistics of the event, including taking girls into another room to “enjoy them” while others were downstairs. Mallen also provided Jo with sex toys during a meeting at the Coastline Cafe in Blyth on August 21, 2019, where they discussed the upcoming party and the roles of other adult male participants.

Further evidence revealed Mallen’s disturbing mindset. He asked Jo if she identified as a paedophile, to which he responded, “it’s the horrible word, isn’t it? But there’s no other way of putting it, you just have to embrace it, f*** it I quite get off on it yes, I am why the hell not?” He also purchased items online, including a family-sized swimming pool, children’s toy ducks, a princess castle play tent, and a toy cleaner, all intended for the planned abuse event.

Police investigations uncovered a room within Mallen’s house that had been converted into a sex room, equipped with whips, shackles, BDSM implements, and other devices used for role play. His computers contained internet searches for websites depicting young children in sexual acts, as well as extreme pornography and graphic material on how to have sex with dogs. Mallen and Maria Alfonzo, a woman involved with him, pleaded guilty to charges related to planning sexual activity with a dog. Mallen’s online chats also included discussions about his dogs and their sexual encounters with women.

During the police search, authorities found evidence of Mallen’s involvement in multiple criminal activities. He was convicted of conspiracy to facilitate child sex offenses, two counts of sexual assault, conspiracy to engage in sexual activity with an animal, and possession of extreme pornography. The court sentenced him to 18 years in prison, with an extended license period of eight additional years. He will also be required to register as a sex offender and remain under a sexual harm prevention order indefinitely.

Judge Christopher Prince described Mallen as having an “obviously ingrained sexual attraction to children” and expressed skepticism about his potential to cease posing a risk. The judge emphasized the danger he represented, stating, “I find it hard to envisage you will ever cease to pose the risk of harm to children that you currently pose.”

In addition to Mallen’s sentence, three women involved in the case received prison terms. Maria Alfonzo, 33, from Southey Lane, Kingskerswell, Newton Abbot, pleaded guilty to facilitating child sex offenses, distributing indecent images of a child, and conspiracy to engage in sexual activity with an animal. She was sentenced to 43 months in prison and will be subject to a lifelong sex offenders register and sexual harm prevention order. Alfonzo, originally from Venezuela, had met Mallen there and was involved in the planned abuse.

Caroline Scurr, aged 44 from North Shields, was convicted of conspiracy to facilitate child sex offenses. She received a sentence of seven and a half years and will also be subject to a lifelong sexual harm prevention order. The court heard that Scurr was vulnerable, had low self-esteem, and claimed she was groomed by Mallen. She had previously worked as a manager at the Care Quality Commission and as a prostitute.

Lauren Marshall, aged 37 from Ashington, who was a teacher at the time of her arrest, pleaded guilty to facilitating a child sex offense. She was sentenced to 38 months in prison. All three women will be required to sign the sex offenders register and adhere to ongoing restrictions to prevent further offenses.

Overall, the case highlights the disturbing extent of Mallen’s criminal activities and the serious threat he posed to children and animals alike. The court’s verdict underscores the importance of vigilance and the need for robust measures to prevent such heinous crimes from occurring in the future.