ANDREW DIXON CAUGHT IN LINTHORPE MEETING UNDERAGE BOY IN SUNDERLAND SUPERMARKET CAR PARK

In a disturbing case that highlights ongoing concerns about online grooming and child exploitation, Andrew Dixon, a 52-year-old former air force engineer from Linthorpe, Middlesbrough, was apprehended by vigilant paedophile hunters after he traveled to meet a supposed underage boy in a supermarket parking lot.

The incident unfolded when Dixon engaged in a graphic and inappropriate conversation on the gay dating website Grindr, initiating contact with an individual he believed to be a 15-year-old boy named Martin. The exchanges began in September and quickly escalated to discussions of meeting in person for sexual purposes.

The supposed meeting was set to take place at an Asda supermarket located in Pennywell, Sunderland. Dixon agreed to meet the young individual at this location, unaware that he was being monitored by a dedicated group known as the Guardians of the North. This anonymous organization had created a fake profile on Grindr as part of an operation designed to catch adults seeking illegal contact with minors.

Dixon’s criminal history includes a previous conviction for indecent assault on a female child, which resulted in a 33-month prison sentence handed down at Newcastle Crown Court. Additionally, in 2007, he was sentenced to 12 months in prison for similar offenses.

During the court proceedings, prosecutor Alec Burns detailed the nature of the exchanges between Dixon and the fictitious Martin. He stated, “The defendant and Martin had a number of exchanges. What it came down to was he wanted to meet Martin for sex. It was obvious the person he was dealing with was claiming to be 15 years of age.”

Following Dixon’s arrest by police officers, authorities discovered a disturbing collection of nearly 4,000 images depicting children as young as two or three years old being subjected to abuse. This evidence underscored the severity of his offending behavior.

Judge Stephen Earl, presiding over the case, emphasized the clear evidence of Dixon’s intent and the nature of the messages exchanged. He remarked, “Those messages make it exceedingly clear Martin was a schoolboy of 15, the messages make that abundantly clear to anyone capable of reading them.”

Dixon pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming, breaching a sexual offences prevention order that had been imposed after his previous conviction, and possessing indecent images of children.

As part of his sentencing, Dixon was handed a life-long Sexual Harm Prevention Order and was ordered to register as a sex offender. The court’s decision reflects the serious nature of his crimes and the ongoing threat he poses to the community.