South Shields man jailed for trying to meet 14-year-old for sex

John Sewell, of Dean Road, South Shields, claimed to have "taught a few shy virgins" and sent the 14-year-old graphically detailed instructions and explicit videos before they were due to meet in person.


But Newcastle Crown Court heard the 28-year-old had been duped by paedophile hunters Geordie Chasers, who set up fake profiles online to snare perverts looking for contact with children.


The group had set up a fake account and had posed as 14-year-old "Ellie" during the online chats with Sewell.


When he turned up to meet her at Hebburn Metro station last January, he was confronted by members of the group and police.

Rachel Masters, prosecuting, told the court Sewell was told straight away he was chatting to a 14-year-old when he made contact online.


She added: "He quickly started sending messages of a sexual nature, asking if she liked older men and stated he had taught virgins to have sex in the past."


Miss Masters said Sewell gave online instructions to the youngster on how to carry out various sex acts, sent videos to "educate her" and said they could meet in person, as long as he could "trust her".


She said that, in one message, he boasted: "I have taught a few shy virgins before. They were shy and scared. I haven't taught anyone in years. I have to trust them to keep it between


us."


The court heard Sewell asked 'Ellie' for pictures when she was in the bath, encouraged her to perform solo sex acts and sent her pictures to her of his private parts.


When Sewell was arrested at the Metro station, where he planned to meet 'Ellie', he had three condoms with him.


Sewell pleaded guilty to attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming and attempting to engage a child in sexual activity.


Mr recorder Tom Little QC sentenced him to two years and eight months behind bars with lifelong sex offender registration and sexual harm prevention order.


The judge told him: "You asked her if she would be willing to participate in sexual activity if you gave her instructions.


"You told her you would show her how to perform sexual intercourse and provide videos on the subject. In due course, you did provide her with videos.


"You told her you would teach her in person as long as you could trust her to keep it quiet.


Jennifer Coxon, defending, said Sewell had gone through difficulties since he was school age and has been subjected to bullying and street attacks in the past.


Miss Coxon said Sewell, who has had relationships in the past but none serious, was out of work when he started using chatrooms and was leading an


"isolated lifestyle".


She added: "He found himself talking to someone he gained attention from. It was attention he had not had for a significant amount of time.


"It was some attention, attention which has clearly gone too far and brought him here today.


"It is something he will never, ever do, ever again."