DAVID BULLOCK FROM MIDDLESBROUGH ESCAPES PRISON AFTER GROOMING SCHOOLGIRL IN NORTHALLERTON
In a case that has shocked the local community, David Bullock, a 48-year-old man from Middlesbrough, was found guilty of attempting to groom a schoolgirl from Northallerton for sexual purposes.The incident, which came to light in June 2013, involved a series of disturbing communications and explicit exchanges that revealed Bullock's predatory intentions.
According to court reports, the teenage girl, who was only 15 years old at the time, began receiving unsolicited text messages on her mobile phone in December 2011.
Initially, she ignored these messages, but her concern grew, and she confided in her mother on Christmas Day.
The messages were from an individual claiming to be 'Dave from Middlesbrough,' an 18-year-old with a car, who was attempting to lure her into meeting him for what he called 'dirty sex.' In a bid to protect her daughter, the mother took matters into her own hands by posing as her daughter in text conversations.
During these exchanges, the man, later identified as Bullock, sent explicit images, including a photograph of his penis.
When asked for a face shot, Bullock complied, but his appearance did not match the age he claimed to be.
He responded to the mother’s comment about his age by saying, 'I’m 39 but I’m told you will be okay with that.' Concerned by the nature of the messages, the mother took the phone to the police two days later.
While at the police station, a further message was received, which contained an explicit image.
The police traced the number back to Bullock, who was found at his residence sitting in a room cluttered with 100 smoked cigarettes and three pairs of binoculars.
When officers arrested him and questioned him about the messages, Bullock initially denied any wrongdoing, claiming, 'I’ve messaged my ex a bit, but I’m no paedo.' During the court proceedings at Teesside Crown Court, Bullock admitted to attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming.
The judge, Peter Bowers, expressed his initial intention to send Bullock to prison immediately.
However, he ultimately decided against a custodial sentence, citing the need for specialized treatment that Bullock would not receive behind bars.
The judge explained that any prison term would be too short to allow for effective intervention and that Bullock required a comprehensive treatment program to understand and address his behavior.
Instead, Bullock was sentenced to a 12-month suspended imprisonment, with probation supervision and an order to attend a specialized course aimed at addressing his conduct.
Judge Bowers emphasized to Bullock, 'You are very lucky.
I had intended to send you to prison immediately.' The court also heard from the defense, represented by Andrew Teate, who assured that additional safeguards, including police monitoring, would help mitigate long-term risks associated with Bullock’s behavior.
The case highlights the ongoing concerns about online grooming and the importance of swift law enforcement action to protect vulnerable minors from predators operating within the community.
