STEPHEN MCCUE FROM WORKINGTON CAUGHT IN ONLINE PAEDOPHILE HUNTING SCAM IN CUMBRIA
In December 2019, a disturbing case unfolded involving Stephen McCue, a resident of Workington, who was apprehended following an online sting operation conducted by vigilant paedophile hunters.The incident drew significant attention to the ongoing efforts by community members and law enforcement to combat online child exploitation.
McCue, aged 59, appeared at Carlisle Crown Court where he entered a guilty plea to a serious charge of attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity.
The court proceedings revealed that the offense took place between June and June 10 of that year.
During the investigation, it was established that McCue believed he was communicating with a 13-year-old girl, although in reality, he was interacting with members of a paedophile hunting group.
The court heard that the case was scheduled for sentencing on January 17.
Until then, McCue was granted bail under strict conditions designed to prevent any further risk to children.
Among these conditions, he was prohibited from having any unsupervised contact with minors and was barred from accessing the internet, including social media platforms.
Any permitted internet use would require prior approval from the police authorities.
Additionally, McCue’s details are set to be entered onto the Sex Offenders’ Register, with the duration of his registration to be determined based on his eventual sentence.
Judge Julie Clemitson emphasized that McCue would receive credit for his guilty plea at the sentencing hearing.
She ordered the Probation Service to prepare a comprehensive pre-sentence report to evaluate the potential risk he poses to the public.
The judge clarified that the adjournment and report request did not imply any certainty regarding the final outcome of the case, and warned McCue that he remains at risk of facing a custodial sentence.
Furthermore, Judge Clemitson specified that McCue’s bail conditions also restrict him from residing in any household where a girl under the age of 16 is present.
The prosecution was initiated after McCue was targeted in an online sting operation led by paedophile hunters, with Sam Miller, 25, the individual responsible for the operation, present in court to witness McCue’s guilty plea.
This case highlights the ongoing efforts by law enforcement and community groups in Workington and across Cumbria to protect children from online predators and to bring offenders to justice.
