Latest Offenders Sunderland

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A Sunderland paedophile who arranged to meet a child for sex has been sentenced.

James Graham, 24, planned to meet a 14-year-old boy who he believed he had been chatting with online.

However, what he didn’t know, was that he had actually been speaking with a police officer from the North East Regional Organised Crime Unit (NEROCU) as part of a wider investigation.

Graham sent countless sexually explicit messages stating his intentions with the 14-year-old schoolboy and even offered the child drugs.

When communication began in October 2024, officers from NEROCU quickly launched a specialist operation to target Graham and bring him into custody.

On January 15 last year, officers arrested Graham and subsequently charged him with arrange/facilitate the commission of child sex offence and attempt to engage in sexual communication with a child. Graham later pleaded guilty to all charges.  

Today (Thursday), he appeared before Newcastle Crown Court and was sentenced to 10 months in prison suspended for 18 months, 10 years on the sex offender register and a 10-year sexual harm prevention order for his despicable actions.

NEROCU Detective Constable Lee Robertson, said:

“Cases like this show why our work in this area is so vital and we will continue to do all we can to help protect children from predators like Graham.

“I’d like to thank all the officers and staff involved for helping to bring Graham before the courts and as always, I’d encourage anyone who has been a victim, or wants to talk to an officer and raise some concerns, to get in touch immediately.”

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Adam Hall, previously of the Washington area, Tyne and Wear, was today (Thursday) brought to justice thanks to the bravery of the victim-survivors.

The 43-year-old has been found guilty of five counts of rape and seven counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent through the intentional transmission of the HIV virus.

He was further found guilty of supplying a controlled drug (GHB) and failing to comply with a police investigation after refusing to provide the password to his phone.

The offences relate to seven victim-survivors, between 2016 and 2023.

Hall had denied the offences.

During the trial at Newcastle Crown Court, the jury was told that if the HIV virus is undetectable in a person’s system it is untransmittable.

However, Hall knew at various points he had transmittable levels of the virus in his system and intentionally had unprotected sex – and in the majority of these cases raped the victim-survivors.

He becomes only the second person in the UK to be convicted of the intentional transmission of HIV.

Hall was remanded into custody and will be sentenced on April 23.

The Senior Investigating Officer Adam Hall’s case, Detective Chief Inspector Emma Smith, of Northumbria Police, said:

“Today, we have seen a callous and calculating sexual predator brought to justice.

“Adam Hall has been found guilty of multiple counts of rape and grievous bodily harm through the intentional transmission of HIV.

“He has shown absolutely no remorse for the extensive suffering and distress he has caused.

“We want to recognise the courage shown by the victim-survivors who came forward – it is due to their bravery that he has been brought to justice.

“Our priority remains helping ensure anyone impacted by Hall’s actions receives the support they need.

“Through our extensive investigations we believe that he has had sexual contact with men who have not yet been identified.

“There is also evidence he has travelled to different parts of the country, including County Durham, Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, Manchester, and London.

“We would encourage anyone who may have health concerns to seek advice and support from your local sexual health services.

“There are safe places where you can access a broad range of services. We want people to know this is available confidentially and independently of the police.

“Anyone who believes they may be a victim of a criminal offence is also encouraged to come forward to ourselves.

“We have set-up a dedicated webpage for people to contact us, which can be accessed by visiting our website.

“We want our message to be a clear one – we are here for you, we will listen and we will help ensure you receive the support you need.”

Police are also reminding people that anyone who reports being a victim of any kind of sexual offence has anonymity and should not be identified.

Director of Public Health for Newcastle and Gateshead, Alice Wiseman, has spoken on behalf of public health bodies across the region to encourage those with concerns to access sexual health services.

She said:

“This is a devastating case for the victims involved who will have to deal with the consequences of Adam Hall’s actions for the rest of their lives.

“I know that there will be many victims of sexual offences who don’t report what has happened to them and may not seek support.

“We have sexual health services across the region all of which offer free, confidential advice and support. There is no judgement and your health and safety is our priority.

“Regardless of where you live, you can access any public sexual health service in any area. If you read about this case and want to seek advice, then we are here for you.

“We will continue to work closely with the police to ensure support is available to victims, and to anyone else who requires it. You are never alone.”

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A perverted 78-year-old pensioner, George Laidler, who offered money to view babies and children being abused overseas in depraved online chats, has been branded a danger and jailed. Laidler, previously imprisoned for child sex attacks, asked about costs for young children to be abused on camera in Africa.

In one conversation with what he believed was a 15-year-old Ghanaian schoolboy, he requested to see sexual activity involving a six-year-old. He also discussed a sex act on a "baby boy," but when told the child was nine, Laidler replied it was "too old."

The vile exchanges were uncovered when a bail hostel worker found a secret phone Laidler, a registered sex offender, should have declared. The device also contained a child abuse video and an extreme pornography image.

Laidler, of Warwick Terrace, Sunderland, admitted attempted sexual communication with a child, three charges of arranging a child sex offence, making an indecent child photograph, possessing extreme porn, and breaching a sexual harm prevention order.

The court heard he was jailed in 2018 for three indecent assaults on children and child abuse images offences. He has now been sentenced to six years and eight months.

Recorder Toby Hedworth told him: "The chat on the phone indicates you were communicating with what you deemed to be individuals in Africa, particularly Ghana and you were seeking from those opportunities to engage remotely in sexual offences with extremely young children.

"Any review of the words exchanged between you and those you were communicating with indicates the most depraved conduct on your behalf and the most depraved desires.

"You are, and remain in my view, a danger to members of the community if you were to have access to children. You are 78 years of age now and I have to have regard to that in terms of when and if you will be able to return to the community."

Defence barrister Shaun Routledge said the chats showed those on the other end were "more interested in getting money out of the defendant."

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A psychotic rapist who stabbed a seven-year-old child he believed was the devil has been sentenced to indefinite detention at a secure hospital.

Byron Stubbs, 25, of no fixed abode, attacked the child and two women with a kitchen knife at a house in Sunderland after a three-day alcohol and cocaine binge, Newcastle Crown Court heard. He also raped a woman several years earlier and only admitted it after fearing police would find the footage he had filmed on his phone.

Stubbs admitted attempted murder, intentional wounding and rape. He had a long history of severe mental illness, which he worsened through alcohol and drug use, prosecutor Jolyn Perks said.

After three days without sleep, he stabbed the child in the stomach, then attacked the two women who intervened. Police found Stubbs and the house covered in blood. The child suffered bone-deep wounds to the hand and arms; the stomach injury could have been fatal if any deeper. One woman was stabbed through the ear, the other in the arms and hands.

The child’s mother said the “horrific” attack had changed their family’s lives forever. The previously “happy little” child now “freaked out” if anyone stood behind them and was “petrified” of knives. She feared lifelong mental health issues.

The rape victim said she had once been “bubbly, outgoing, loud and adventurous” but was now “a completely different person” who was “anxious and jumpy in every situation”. Stubbs initially denied the rape but admitted it when he realised police had his phone and might discover the video.

Since the attacks, Stubbs – previously sectioned under the Mental Health Act – has been diagnosed with schizophrenia involving delusions and auditory hallucinations about God and the devil.

A psychiatrist told the court he would remain a high risk of serious harm even if successfully treated, if he continued to drink and take drugs. Other experts noted his “long history of delusional beliefs”, “high levels of violence and aggression” and domestic abuse of multiple partners.

Stubbs had a suspended sentence for blackmail in 2020 and a caution for battery in 2022.

Judge Robert Adams said Stubbs was a “dangerous offender” who posed a “significant risk of causing serious harm” and needed “intensive and enduring” treatment. The risks to the public were “very great” and would “remain so for a very long time”. A hospital order with ongoing psychiatric care would protect the public better than prison, where he would have received 15 years plus a four-year extended licence.

Stubbs must sign the sex offenders register indefinitely.

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A man has been jailed for more than 11 years for raping two teenage girls.

Taranvir Galsinh took a 14-year-old girl to a hotel where he raped her, sexually assaulted her, and paid her for having sex with him.

He sexually assaulted her in a car several times and on one occasion tried to strangle her.

Galsinh, of Sunderland, also raped a second girl who was 12 years old at the time and forced her to engage in sexual activity in his vehicle. He also paid her.

He appeared at Durham Crown Court in July where he pleaded guilty to rape of a girl aged 13 to 15, two counts of rape under 13, intentional strangulation, three counts of paying for sexual services of a girl, sexual assault of a child, causing a child to engage in sexual activity, two counts of engaging in sexual activity with a child and assault by penetration of a child.

The 45-year-old was last week jailed at Teesside Crown Court for 11 years and three months.

He was also made subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) and lifetime restraining orders against both girls.

Detective Constable Hanna Liddle, of Durham Constabulary, said:

“This was an horrific ordeal for these girls and the consequences of Galsinh’s actions will be felt for the rest of her life.

“What he did is unforgiveable. He took advantage of the girls and has shown no remorse for his actions.

“The girls have been incredibly brave throughout what has been an extremely difficult process for them to deal with.

“I hope they can begin to move on with their lives knowing he has been brought to justice.”

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A judge has praised a passer-by for thwarting a potential rapist during a street assault in Monkwearmouth, Sunderland.

Ian Hudson, 42, of no fixed address, was sentenced to nine years in prison on November 13 at Newcastle Crown Court for eight offenses, including attempted rape, sexual assault, non-fatal strangulation, and assaulting officers, Northumbria Police reported. He will be on the Sex Offenders' Register for life and subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

The attack occurred on December 30 last year. Hamzah Albar, a 23-year-old Saudi Arabian student, was heading to shops when he saw Hudson assaulting the woman. After his phone battery died during a police call, Albar confronted Hudson, chased him away, grabbed and held him down despite being punched in the face, and flagged down motorists to alert authorities.

In June, Hudson was convicted of two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, common assault, non-fatal strangulation, sexual assault, and attempted rape. He had pleaded guilty to exposure and assaulting a PC.

The victim's court statement read: "I didn't know there was evil out there like him but now I have seen evil, and it terrifies me." She added: "That night I honestly believe he would've killed me if the witness hadn't come along."

Judge Recorder David M Gordon commended Albar: "I wish to formally commend Mr Hamzah Albar for his extraordinary courage and public-spiritedness. Mr Albar intervened without hesitation to prevent the rape of the complainant who was in clear and immediate danger. In doing so, he not only placed himself at personal risk, but was in fact assaulted by the defendant as he restrained him until the police arrived."

In a police-shared video, Albar said: "He knew what he had done was despicable and he was trying to run away from the consequences as urgently as he could. Ultimately, I was not going to let that happen."

Albar later met the victim, who said she had resisted for minutes but was about to surrender when he intervened.

Detective Constable Hayley McIntosh stated: "The offences which Ian Hudson inflicted on his victim were truly horrific."

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A convicted pedophile who breached court orders to hide his criminal past from his new girlfriend has been jailed for two years and eight months.

Gary Chitticks, 41, failed to notify police of his move from Bournemouth to Wearside for the relationship and did not register a new mobile phone, as required by a 2021 order after his imprisonment for attempting to meet a decoy child for sex.

He admitted six breaches at Newcastle Crown Court.

In 2021, Chitticks was jailed for four years in Bournemouth after admitting attempting sexual communications with a child, having messaged a decoy profile and suggested meeting for sexual activity, prosecutor Ian Windridge said.

Lifelong orders mandated notifying police of his address via the sex offender register, registering internet-enabled devices, and retaining their search histories.

In July, Chitticks told Northumbria Police he was homeless and sleeping rough in Hetton-le-Hole, Sunderland.

Officers traced a linked mobile number to a woman in Houghton-le-Spring, who said they began dating in May, spent a week at a Bournemouth hotel, and he then moved in with her—changes he should have reported.

Upon his August arrest, police found an unregistered phone set to auto-delete history and a bank card under the alias Dave Chambers, Mr. Windridge said.

In mitigation, Claire Anderson said Chitticks had "allowed his heart to rule his head" to protect the budding relationship.

Judge Gavin Doig noted Chitticks had also been jailed for exposing himself since 2021, had "clearly sought to hide the truth" from the woman, and deemed the breaches "serious." He called the orders "simply non-negotiable," saying Chitticks posed "far too high a risk" to the public for leniency.

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A married couple and their friend who sexually abused a child in the 1990s have now been jailed. David Farrow, 60, his wife Susan Farrow, 52, and their friend Joseph Willis, 74, were brought to justice thanks to the bravery of the victim reporting what had happened to them more than 20 years later.

The extent of the offending came to light after the victim reported the abuse by the trio in Sunderland area. In October 2022, all three were charged in connection with the abuse.

Following two trials at Newcastle Crown Court in April 2024 and April 2025, David Farrow was found guilty of 11 offences, including seven counts of rape and four counts of indecent assault - being that the offences occurred before the Sexual Offences Act was introduced in 2003. Susan Farrow was found guilty of one count of indecent assault and Wills was found guilty of one count of rape.

Following the convictions, David Farrow was remanded into custody. On Thursday, September 11, all three returned to Newcastle Crown Court for sentencing.

David Farrow, of Gregory Terrace, Fencehouses, was jailed for 20 years. He will also spend the rest of his life on the Sex Offenders' Register and was handed a lifelong restraining order to protect the victim.

Susan Farrow, of Gregory Terrace, Fencehouses, was jailed for 15 months. She will also spend 10 years on the Sex Offenders' Register and was handed a lifelong restraining order to protect the victim.

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A child molester who groped and abused a girl has been jailed for four years.

John Briggs, 60 and from Houghton-le-Spring, near Sunderland, had a "devastating impact" on his young victim, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

The girl said the abuse had led to her self-harming and being diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), adding she could never get back the time he had taken from her.

Briggs had denied all wrongdoing but was found guilty of eight counts of sexual assault of a child under the age of 13.

'Egregious actions'

In a statement read to the court, the victim said she had been "scared" by the abuse and it "changed" her.

She said she now found it impossible to trust men or be alone with them for fear of what they would to do her.

"I can never get the time back he has taken away from me," the girl said.

Judge Julie Scott said Briggs, a former cabinetmaker and machine technician, had had a "devastating impact" on his young victim and his actions had been "egregious".

"She will have to live with what you did to her for the rest of her life," the judge told Briggs, adding "no sentence of any length could change that for her".

Briggs was also made subject of a sexual harm prevention order and must sign the sex offender register for life.

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A paedophile tradesman sought out horrific child abuse images after becoming "desensitised" to adult pornography.

Callum Robins was caught with indecent images of children between the ages of four and 10 who were in "distress".

The 34-year-old father-of-three was caught in possession of five category A images, seven category B, and four category C. Robins had been using the Telegram app and WhatsApp to view the abuse material.

On Monday, Robins, of Percy Terrace, Houghton-le-Spring, appeared at Durham Crown Court to be sentenced for three counts of making indecent images. He had pleaded guilty to the offences.

The court heard that on April 6, police went to Robins' address where he was arrested. His Huawei mobile phone was also seized and searched.

Annelise Haugstad, prosecuting, said: "The phone was seized and images were recovered from the device. They had been deposited there using Telegram, WhatsApp and thumbnails." The court heard that images had been saved to the phone's gallery, with some depicting children between the ages of four and 10 in "some distress".

In police interview, Robins claimed he had been in an adult porn group chat which involved 150 people from around the world and recalled seeing indecent images. However, he couldn't account for the images being found in his phone's gallery. Ms Haugstad said that he also claimed to be out of the area when the images were downloaded, which was "not correct".

The Telegram app had also been installed by Robins. Deliberate search terms had also been used by him and some images had been deleted.

Tabitha Buck, defending, said Robins was of previous good character and pleaded guilty on the day of trial. She said the offences were committed during an addiction to alcohol and cocaine.

She said: "He owned his own business and was working as a roofer and in cladding. He had a partner and three children and was the sole provider for the family. He resorted to drinking alcohol and taking cocaine. He was quite addicted to adult pornography and was becoming desensitised to that and was seeking more extreme sources."

Judge Robinson sentenced Robins to 10 months prison, suspended for 18 months, and ordered him to carry out 80 hours unpaid work. He must also complete 30 rehabilitation days. A five year sexual harm prevention order was imposed, and he will be on the sex offenders' register for 10 years.

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A vile Sunderland rapist has been jailed for eight years after admitting shocking crimes against two women. James Wright, 25, of Hampstead Road was sentenced on Friday at Newcastle Crown Court.

Wright was called "clearly a dangerous man" by the Northumbria Police officer who led the investigation into him. Wright admitted sex offences including two charges of rape and two of assault in court in May.

He assaulted one of his victims by throwing a mobile phone at her, the police said. His eventual arrest came after two complex investigations which were triggered when both victims came forward to police.

In court on Friday, Wright was sentenced to eight years behind bars and four years on extended licence following his release. He will also be on the Sex Offenders' Register for life and has been given restraining orders preventing him from contacting both victims.

Following his sentencing, Police Staff Investigator (PSI) Hayley Anderson, of Northumbria Police’s Rape Investigation Team said:

"James Wright is clearly a dangerous man who has shown with his consistent violent behaviour that he has no regard for the effects this type of abuse can have.

"No-one should ever have to experience what these women have been through, and their bravery in the decision to report these incidents to police means their abuser is now behind bars. I hope this sentence has given them both the closure they deserve, and also hope it urges others who may be suffering in silence to reach out and report abuse to us."

PSI Anderson said the convictions and sentencing should show other survivors of sexual offences that the force would support them and hold abusers to account. She added: "If you’ve been a victim of sexual abuse, please know that we can help you; report to us today."

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A voyeur who took a photograph of an unconscious and naked visitor to his home for "bragging rights" has been jailed.

The victim became stranded in South Shields without money and wearing shorts. Someone he suggested he go to Jonpaul Elessar's home to wait for a taxi, which he did. The court heard that when he got there, he asked Elessar to turn off cameras he had installed in his home because he didn't want to be recorded. Elessar gave the man a drink and said he took some drugs and ended up unconscious.

Sentencing Elessar at Newcastle Crown Court, Judge Sarah Mallet said: "He has no recollection of anything else until he was woken by his partner. While unconscious and naked, you took an image of him.

"You were amused by what you had done and said he was drunk and had taken G[GHB] and you had performed a sex act on him."

The court heard the victim felt violated when he was in a vulnerable position. Judge Mallet said: "He was concerned you had taken other images while he was vulnerable.

"He said it was humiliating, shocking and disgusting. You have caused him significant emotional harm.

"You took and sent an image out of malice or spite - bragging rights, as you call it in the pre-sentence report."

Prosecutor Christopher Rose it is unclear if the victim ended up "completely naked" before of after he fell unconscious. The victim said he didn't know how he ended up in a state of undress.

Mr Rose said: "While prone on the defendant's sofa, naked and unconscious, the defendant took an image of him which he sent to another man."

When Elessar's phone was examined in relation to that offence, two indecent images of children aged between 12 and 16 were discovered.

The 38-year-old, of Norfolk Drive, Washington, who has a previous conviction from 2013 for possessing and distributing indecent images of children, pleaded guilty to voyeurism and possessing indecent images of children. He was jailed for 20 months and must sign the sex offenders register and be subject to a sexual harm prevention order for ten years. He was also given an indefinite restraining order.

Robin Turton, defending, said: "He shows good victim empathy and a good deal of remorse." He added: "His behaviour was unseemly and pretty grubby.

"It was a sly photograph taking, effectively, for bragging rights. It doesn't reflect well on him."

"There are good aspects to his character." Mr Turton said the two indecent images of children were in Elessar's trash bin on WhatsApp.

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A manipulative sex offender who groomed a young boy has been jailed for four years.

Caitlin Hutchinson groomed the boy over several months, sending him sexually explicit text messages and making him carry out sex acts on her. Her offending came to light when the boy bravely told his parents about what had happened, and Hutchinson was arrested.

She initially denied the offences in interview, telling officers the boy had forced himself on her.

However, the evidence proved otherwise, and she was charged with six counts of engaging in sexual activity with a boy, engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child, engaging in sexual communication with a child, and causing or inciting a boy to engage in sexual activity.

In a victim impact statement, the boy said: “The last 18 months have been hell for me, going through what she put me through and keeping it from my family because I felt ashamed.

“I’ve changed so much because of what I’ve been through. I don’t want to be around women alone because I don’t feel safe, even around women I know because I don’t want to be targeted and manipulated again.

“I struggle to get to sleep every night, sometimes not getting to sleep until the early hours of the morning due to the thoughts going through my head of what happened to me.

“I have no motivation in life anymore and struggle every day with emotions, anxiety and depression.

“I feel like I will never get over what she has done to me, that I am damaged, and that I will never be fully happy. I just want a normal life and I don’t feel that my life will ever be normal again.

“I hope I can move on with my life, although I feel I cannot forgive her for ruining my childhood.”

Hutchinson, of Roker Avenue, in Sunderland, admitted the offences and appeared at Durham Crown Court on February 27 for sentencing. The 21-year-old was jailed for four years and placed on the sex offender register indefinitely.

She was also handed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) preventing her from having contact with children under 16, and prohibiting her from using social media websites without notifying the police first.

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A man has been jailed for sending sexually explicit messages to someone he believed was a 14-year-old girl.

Kevin Rowland, from Sunderland, sent messages and images of himself to a police officer posing as a teenager.

He was arrested at his home on Eastmoor Road, Pallion, in May and later pleaded guilty to multiple offences.

Rowland, 44, was sentenced to three years and three months in prison at Newcastle Crown Court.

Rowland had pleaded guilty to attempting to arrange or facilitate child sex offences, sexual communication with a child, breach of a sexual harm prevention order, and breach of sex offender notification requirements.

Det Con Lee Robertson said Rowland's sentencing had been achieved following a "long and thorough investigation" by the North East Regional Organised Crime Unite (NEROCU).

"This result has meant a predator is now back behind bars and shows our commitment to pursuing anyone posing a threat to children," he said.

"We would always encourage anyone with information about this type of offending, or anyone who thinks they have been a victim to come forward and talk to police."

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A sex offender arranged to babysit a young girl during sickening online chats with her mum.

Graham Burton, who was out on licence from a previous prison sentence for sex offences, discussed travelling to the mum's house by taxi to he could get access to the child. Newcastle Crown Court heard it remains unclear whether an actual mother was behind the vile exchange but Burton was sent pictures of a little girl, who appeared to be aged between five and seven, during the discussion.

Prosecutor Emma Dowling said the conversation took place on a social media app and told the court: "The person presented online as an adult female. The defendant entered into a sexual conversation with the profile.

"The sexual conversation with the adult also included the suggestion he would be interested in engaging in sexual activity with her daughter. He offered to babysit for the child. There was discussions about him getting a taxi over to the address."

The court heard Burton described the activities he planned to have with both the mum and daughter in graphic detail. Miss Dowling added: "He asked for sexual images of the child. The photographs sent were non sexual, showing a young girl aged between five and seven."

Judge Tim Gittins told him: "In chats with that person you planned to engage in sexual assaults upon that young child under the pretence of babysitting. The harm, had the act taken place, would have been substantial.

"I am quite certain you present as a substantial and serious, ongoing risk to young children of causing serious harm to them."

The court heard the details of the shocking arrangement were found when police visited his home in May to carry out a routine check due to his sex offender status. Burton, who has three previous convictions relating to attempted online child sex offences and having indecent images, handed over his Samsung mobile and officers found he had been involved in conversations using alias names, which he is banned from doing.

A further inspection of the phone showed he had been talking to a profile of a 12-year-old girl, had a brief conversation about meeting up and had been sent images by her which were sexual and non sexual. It is unclear whether it was an actual 12-year-old girl running the profile.

He had also had sexual conversation with a 16-year-old girl's profile, which was relatively short. And as well the arrangement to babysit, Miss Dowling said there was further "deeply unpleasant" conversations Burton had had with adults, about committing sex acts with children.

Burton, 60, of High Street East, Sunderland, admitted breach of a sexual harm prevention order, attempting to have sexual communication with a child, arranging the commission of a child sex offence and possessing five category C images of child abuse, which were also found on his phone. He was jailed for four years with a four-year extended licence and a lifelong sexual harm prevention order and sex offender registration

Lorraine Mustard, defending, said this is Burton's fourth conviction for similar offending and added: "He would like some help. In his own mind he would not harm a child."