Child sex offender caught in web sting sentenced

David Morgan thought he was messaging a 14-year-old girl (file photo)

A sex offender caught by an online paedophile hunter has been given a suspended prison sentence.

David Morgan, 41 and from Blyth, Northumberland, sent indecent messages and made sexual video calls to what he thought was a 14-year-old girl, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

The girl was actually a decoy profile run by a woman to ensnare child abusers, the court heard, with Morgan identified in part by his hand tattoos.

Morgan was jailed for two years, suspended for two years, after admitting attempting sexual communication with a child and attempting to incite a child to perform a sexual act.

The court heard Morgan began messaging the girl on a social media site on 23 April, with the conversation quickly turning sexual.

'Pretend you're 16'

He told her he was 31 and from Newcastle, and when the girl said she lived 260 miles (420km) away in Norwich he said he would be happy to travel to meet her, prosecutor Rachael Glover said.

When the girl told him you had to be 16 to have sex, Morgan replied they could "pretend" she was, adding he would be "gentle" and "make it really special", Ms Glover said.

He then persistently requested a video call which the decoy eventually agreed to, during which Morgan performed a sex act upon himself and encouraged the girl to do likewise.

A record of his conversations with the girl was passed to police and Morgan was arrested.

Time on remand

In interview, he denied ever talking to the girl and, when shown images of himself, said he knew other people who had similar hand tattoos.

The court heard he had convictions of indecent exposure and indecent assault from the late 1990s.

In mitigation, Lorraine Mustard said Morgan had little recollection of talking to the girl as he was on a week-long alcohol and drugs binge.

Morgan was also given a two-year community order, which included 200 hours unpaid work and rehabilitation requirements.

Judge Nicholas Lumley KC said an immediate jail term would have seen Morgan released soon as he had already served five months in prison on remand, so suspending the sentence, with the community order, meant there would be more ongoing supervision.

Morgan was also made subject of a 10-year sexual harm prevention order with notification requirements, meaning he must tell the police where he lives.