ARTHUR DOUGLAS FROM MORECAMBE CAUGHT IN SHOCKING ONLINE PAEDOPHILE PLOT AT ARNDALE CENTRE

In April 2021, a disturbing incident unfolded in Morecambe involving Arthur Douglas, a man with a troubling history of sexual offenses. Douglas, who resides at Barton Mobile Home Park in Westgate, was previously subjected to a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) in 2016, a legal measure designed to restrict his contact with minors and prevent further offenses. Despite this, he was involved in a series of concerning behaviors that drew the attention of law enforcement authorities.

Earlier that year, Douglas had engaged in online conversations with what he believed was a teenage girl. Unbeknownst to him, the individual he was communicating with was actually a mother-of-three who had set up a decoy profile. She posed initially as an 18-year-old on a friendship website, but later revealed she was only 13. This undercover operation was part of her personal initiative to combat online predators, motivated by growing concerns about the safety of children from individuals like Douglas.

According to court reports, Douglas had first contacted the decoy profile in May 2021. During their exchanges, he expressed interest in her, asking, “do you fancy me?” Despite the profile indicating she was 18, the mother maintained the pretense that she was a 13-year-old girl. Over the following days, their conversations became increasingly explicit, with Douglas asking lewd questions and discussing the possibility of meeting in person. He was aware of her supposed age but continued to pursue contact.

On May 31, Douglas arranged to meet the girl at Morecambe’s Arndale Centre. However, he did not show up for the initial meeting. Instead, he later contacted her from a different mobile number, and they agreed to meet again. When Douglas arrived at the shopping center, he was unexpectedly met by the mother and her husband, who had been monitoring the situation. Recognizing the danger, they promptly called the police, leading to Douglas’s arrest.

Further investigations revealed that Douglas had been warned about his previous conduct. In 2016, he was given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order after attempting to meet a girl he believed to be 13 at the same Arndale Centre. The order required him to notify authorities of any changes to his mobile phone number or bank accounts. However, during a court hearing, it was disclosed that Douglas had failed to comply with these conditions. He had sold his old mobile phone, claiming the proceeds were sent to a woman in Nigeria, and had set up a Monzo bank account in June 2020, which he used for only a week before closing it in August.

In February of the same year, Douglas had received a six-month suspended jail sentence for breaching his previous SHPO, highlighting a pattern of non-compliance. During the recent court proceedings, Judge Beverley Lunt emphasized the seriousness of his actions, warning him to take the matter seriously and noting that his current engagement with probation services was a positive sign.

Prosecutor Claire Larton detailed the breaches, including his failure to register his annual compliance and his attempts to conceal his mobile phone and banking activities. The court also heard that Douglas had been involved in an earlier online sting operation in August 2016, where a mother posed as a child to catch potential predators. Although he was not prosecuted at that time, the incident underscored his ongoing risk.

Ultimately, Douglas was sentenced to eight months in prison, suspended for two years, and was ordered to pay £150 in costs. He was also subjected to a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order, which aims to restrict his future contact with minors and prevent further offenses. The court’s decision reflects the ongoing concern about his behavior and the importance of strict legal measures to protect children from individuals like Arthur Douglas from Morecambe.