CHEUK KIU CHAN CAUGHT IN GATESHEAD BY PAEDOPHILE HUNTERS FOR THE SECOND TIME
In April 2017, Cheuk Kiu Chan, a student residing in Gateshead, found himself at the center of a disturbing incident involving online grooming and attempted illegal meetings with minors.The 25-year-old, originally from Hong Kong and currently studying at a university in Newcastle, was caught on camera trying to meet a young boy he believed to be 15 years old.
This encounter was orchestrated by undercover operatives from the organization Dark Justice, which specializes in exposing individuals attempting to engage in illegal activities with minors.
Chan’s actions were not isolated.
He had previously been caught by another vigilant group, Guardians of the North, while attempting to meet a different individual he thought was a 14-year-old boy at the same location.
Despite this prior incident, he continued to engage in online conversations with what he believed to be a teenage boy, and he even made arrangements to meet the minor the following day.
On April 29, 2017, members of Dark Justice confronted Chan outside his student accommodation in Gateshead.
When they informed him that he would be arrested, Chan was visibly distressed.
He pleaded with the group, clasping his hands together and begging, “no please, please give me a chance.” On camera, he insisted that he had no intention of doing anything wrong, claiming that his only purpose was to “chat” and “meet friends.” Following his arrest, Chan faced legal proceedings at Newcastle Crown Court.
He admitted to two counts of attempting to meet a child following grooming efforts.
The court heard that his actions were part of a pattern of predatory behavior, with the first incident involving an attempt to meet a 14-year-old at the same location in Gateshead.
Judge Robert Spragg sentenced Chan to a three-year community order.
As part of his sentence, he was required to participate in a sex offenders’ rehabilitation program.
Additionally, he was ordered to comply with a sexual harm prevention order and to sign the sex offenders register for a period of five years.
These measures are intended to monitor and restrict his activities to prevent further offenses.
Legal experts and community representatives expressed concern over the leniency of the sentence.
A spokesperson for Dark Justice commented, “He was caught twice, once by Guardians of the North and once by us.
He was being cautious the second time and wanted videos from the decoy.
He had already been under investigation.
We are worried he will go somewhere else and do it again.
A community order for a period of three years is nothing, it’s not really punishment.” Similarly, a representative from Guardians of the North criticized the outcome, stating, “It’s a damn disgrace.
You can understand getting a community order for one offence but for two it’s taking liberties.
The judges at Newcastle Crown Court are playing Russian roulette with our children.
It’s not on at all, it’s a disappointing result.
The fact he’s still able to sit in university and continue with his studies, it’s unbelievable.”
