AARON TONER FROM NORTH SHIELDS CAUGHT IN PAEDOPHILE HUNTS IN TEESSIDE

In August 2020, a disturbing case unfolded involving Aaron Toner, a man from North Shields, who became the subject of a paedophile hunter operation after engaging in explicit online conversations with what he believed was a young girl.

Authorities revealed that Toner, aged 25, thought he was communicating with a 13-year-old girl during his online exchanges. In reality, he was speaking to a decoy operated by a group known as Undercover and Exposed, which specializes in posing as underage children to catch predators attempting to exploit minors.

The incident came to light when the group’s decoy, based in Middlesbrough, began interacting with Toner in February of the previous year. Despite being aware that the person he was chatting with attended school, Toner continued to engage in increasingly explicit conversations.

Prosecutor Paul Newcombe outlined to Teesside Crown Court that Toner sent explicit images of his naked body, openly told the decoy that she was attractive, and claimed to be a fitness instructor with a high sex drive and notable endowment. The court was also informed that Toner sent a sexual video and shockingly mentioned that he had been offered a nine-year-old girl for sexual activity.

The decoy, acting on behalf of law enforcement, forwarded the chat logs to the police, leading to Toner’s arrest in Middlesbrough. He was subsequently charged with attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity.

During the court proceedings, Judge Stephen Ashurst addressed Toner directly, describing him as a “loner” with a significant fear of social interaction, which contributed to his preference for online communication over face-to-face meetings. The judge emphasized that although no actual child was involved, the explicit nature of the conversations was deeply concerning.

Judge Ashurst noted that Toner appeared to derive sexual satisfaction from the discussions, which added to the gravity of his actions. He also expressed the view that it was preferable for the community to keep a close watch on Toner for an extended period.

As a result, Toner was sentenced to a three-year community order. He is required to complete 30 days of rehabilitation activities and will be subject to a sexual harm prevention order for five years, aiming to mitigate future risks and protect the community from potential harm.