COLIN MURPHY FROM LINTHORPE SENTENCED FOR ONLINE GROOMING OF TEEN GIRLS IN TEESSIDE AND HARTLEPOOL

In October 2016, a disturbing case emerged involving Colin Murphy, a 32-year-old man from Linthorpe, Middlesbrough, who engaged in online grooming activities targeting underage girls. Murphy, under the alias ‘Mr Grey’, used the popular communication platform Skype to contact and manipulate a number of young girls, exploiting their vulnerabilities due to his own issues with insomnia and boredom.

Murphy’s online persona, ‘Big Col’, was used to initiate conversations with seven girls aged between 13 and 15. During these interactions, he made sexually explicit suggestions and attempted to establish inappropriate relationships, knowing the girls’ ages. The court heard that Murphy’s actions included inviting one girl to his home in Hartlepool, where they spent time drinking and smoking, although no sexual activity occurred during that visit. He expressed a desire to develop a sexual relationship with her and suggested they watch a film together to “get to know each other better.”

Further evidence revealed that Murphy encouraged another girl to perform a sex act over webcam, refusing to disclose his own age and sending her images of famous actors as if they were himself. He also requested naked pictures from two girls, which they refused to send. In addition, Murphy made inappropriate comments to a third girl, asking if she wanted to date older men and making a graphic sexual suggestion involving money, shopping, and a hotel for sex. These conversations were part of a pattern of similar sexual propositions directed at four other girls, as recorded in police investigations.

One particularly alarming message was sent to a 13-year-old girl, in which Murphy told her, “you look older than 13, I’d deffo date you,” and he attempted to arrange a meeting with another girl. There was also a disturbing suggestion made to a young woman about engaging in sexual activity with a young boy.

Police were led to Murphy’s residence in Linthorpe after a website report in 2013. Upon arrest, Murphy admitted to his involvement, stating simply, “Yeah that was me.” Subsequently, he was charged with 14 offences committed between June and August 2013. These included inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, attempting to do so, inciting child sex exploitation, arranging or facilitating a sex offence, meeting a child following sexual grooming, and possessing 58 images of extreme pornography.

It is important to note that these crimes marked Murphy’s first foray into sex-related offences, despite having a record of 56 other criminal offences. During the trial, his defense lawyer, Robert Mochrie, explained that Murphy’s behavior was driven by a period of personal turmoil, including a relationship breakdown that led to insomnia and boredom. Mochrie stated, “Of course one does not expect a person to go on to behave in this manner because they’re bored. There are a raft of other activities that a person can take up. But nevertheless this is how Mr Murphy describes falling into this downward spiral of internet activity. He was going through a difficult period in his life… which led to bizarre behavior. He feels deep regret and shame. To his mind this is behavior that he has put firmly behind him.”

After a lengthy legal process, Judge Peter Armstrong sentenced Murphy to three years in prison. Additionally, Murphy was subjected to an indefinite sexual harm prevention order, which prohibits him from working or having unsupervised contact with anyone under the age of 16. The order also restricts his use of the internet and electronic devices. Furthermore, Murphy will remain on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely, ensuring ongoing monitoring of his activities and compliance with the law.