CRAIG SUTHERAN FROM SOLIHULL SENTENCED AFTER CHILD SEXUAL COMMUNICATIONS IN BIRMINGHAM

In February 2021, a disturbing case involving Craig Sutheran, a resident of Solihull, came to light when he was convicted of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a minor. The court heard that Sutheran, aged 32, had a troubling history of targeting young girls, revealing a disturbing pattern of behavior rooted in a desire for control.

During his time in custody, which included detention at HMP Birmingham, Sutheran was described as being effectively ostracized by fellow inmates and staff alike. The court was informed that he was expected to be released soon, as he was handed a community order rather than immediate imprisonment on Monday, February 8. This decision was made despite Sutheran’s own admission that he enjoyed exerting control over young girls and his initial denial of any criminal activity.

The criminal proceedings detailed how, in May of the previous year, Sutheran engaged in online conversations within a chatroom on the Kik messaging app, targeting users aged between 14 and 19. He initiated contact with a decoy profile, sending a message that read “nice pic,” and almost immediately inquired about the decoy’s age. The decoy responded that she was 14 years old. Sutheran then responded with a provocative question, asking, “I’m old does age bother you?” and falsely claimed to be employed by the NHS, as explained by prosecutor Adrian Fleming during the trial at Birmingham Crown Court.

Over the following weeks, Sutheran’s interactions with the decoy became increasingly sexual in nature. He persistently asked her to send photographs and, over the course of two months, continued to make inappropriate requests. His communications escalated to include sending a graphic video and urging the decoy to perform a sexual act. The situation culminated in his arrest at his home address on July 30.

During the court proceedings, Mr. Fleming stated that Sutheran admitted to having communicated with a 14-year-old girl and to sending her a video. However, he claimed that he had no sexual interest in children, asserting instead that he enjoyed controlling others and specifically targeted younger girls because they were easier to manipulate. Sutheran acknowledged that his actions were morally wrong but argued that they did not constitute criminal behavior.

He pleaded guilty to charges including attempting to engage in sexual communication with a minor, attempting to cause a child to watch sexual activity, and attempting to incite a child into sexual acts. The judge, Avik Mukherjee, emphasized that the most appropriate way to manage the risk Sutheran posed to the public was outside of prison, given the circumstances.

As a result, Sutheran was sentenced to a three-year community order. The order includes 40 days of rehabilitation activities, 80 hours of unpaid work, and participation in a sex offender treatment program. Additionally, he was placed under a five-year sexual harm prevention order, which requires him to notify the police of his whereabouts during that period.

Judge Mukherjee remarked that he did not believe Sutheran had enjoyed his time in custody, to which the defendant responded, “It’s been the worst six months of my life, your honour.”

Justin Hugheston-Roberts, representing Sutheran, highlighted that his client was suffering from poor mental health at the time of the offences. He also noted that Sutheran had lost his home, his job, and any contact with his unborn daughter. The barrister questioned the purpose of imprisonment, stressing that his client was in desperate need of help.

He also pointed out the challenging conditions in prison, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, stating, “Someone such as Craig Sutheran has been effectively seen as a pariah, it is difficult enough living in a closed community in prison today.”