ALNWICK PAEDOPHILE STEVEN MCCARTHY CAUGHT BY DARK JUSTICE GROUP BUT ESCAPES PRISON

In October 2016, Steven McCarthy, a 46-year-old man from Alnwick, Northumberland, found himself at the center of a high-profile case involving online grooming and entrapment by the Dark Justice organization. McCarthy had believed he was communicating with a 13-year-old girl through social media, engaging in conversations that quickly turned sexual in nature.

Dark Justice, a group dedicated to exposing individuals seeking to exploit minors online, had created a fictitious Facebook profile representing a young girl. Over several weeks, McCarthy sent multiple messages to this fake profile, which he believed belonged to a teenage girl. His messages grew increasingly persistent, and he referred to the girl as “babe,” asking her what she wanted. When she inquired about his intentions, he responded openly with “sex if you want,” clearly indicating his sexual interest.

During their exchanges, the fictional girl asked whether her age of 13 would deter him, to which McCarthy replied, “Not at all babe.” The conversations continued, with McCarthy asking her to meet for a drink and providing instructions on how to reach Alnwick. In one exchange, she asked if he would want to kiss her, and he responded, “If you want.” When she again questioned whether her age was a concern, he confirmed, “No.”

On August 13, McCarthy traveled to Alnwick bus station, where he believed he was meeting the girl. Instead, he was confronted by members of Dark Justice. During the arrest, officers found cans of lager in his possession. When questioned about the alcohol, McCarthy claimed it was for himself and insisted that he only intended to meet her, asserting that nothing sexual was planned. He stated that he had told her she could sleep in his bed while he would sleep on the sofa, denying any sexual intent. Although some images were exchanged, they were fully clothed, and there was no actual minor involved.

McCarthy appeared in Newcastle Crown Court, where he pleaded guilty to attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming. Prosecutor Lee Fish explained that this case was part of a series of operations by Dark Justice aimed at exposing online predators.

Judge Robert Adams addressed McCarthy directly, emphasizing that although no actual child was present, McCarthy believed he was communicating with a 13-year-old girl. The judge highlighted that McCarthy had been made aware of her age and had explicitly stated that it did not deter him. The judge remarked that it was uncertain what might have transpired had the meeting actually taken place.

As part of his sentence, McCarthy was given an eight-month jail term, suspended for two years. Additionally, he was ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register and comply with a sexual harm prevention order for ten years. Judge Adams explained that the strict conditions of these orders, designed to address McCarthy’s distorted sexual interests, would serve the public better than immediate imprisonment.

McCarthy, of Upper Howick Street in Alnwick, was thus spared from immediate incarceration but remains under strict supervision to prevent future offenses.