DAWID ROZYCKI FROM BILLINGHAM CAUGHT IN NEWCASTLE PAEDOPHILE STING BY DARK JUSTICE

In December 2017, a disturbing incident unfolded in Newcastle city centre involving a man from Billingham, Dawid Rozycki, who was caught in a sting operation conducted by the vigilante group Dark Justice. The case highlights the ongoing efforts of online safety initiatives to combat child exploitation and grooming.

Rozycki, aged 24 and residing on Clifton Avenue in Billingham, had engaged in online conversations on the popular dating app Grindr. During these exchanges, he believed he was communicating with a 15-year-old boy. The conversations quickly took a sexual turn, with Rozycki asking for explicit photographs and discussing sexual activities in graphic detail. It was evident from the exchanges that Rozycki intended to meet the supposed minor for sexual purposes.

Unbeknownst to him, the individual he was communicating with was not a child but an undercover operative from Dark Justice, a group dedicated to exposing online predators. When Rozycki arrived at the designated meeting point in Newcastle city centre, he was confronted by members of the vigilante group, who recorded the encounter on video. The moment was captured on camera, providing clear evidence of his intentions.

Rozycki attempted to flee into his nearby home upon being confronted, but police officers swiftly arrived and arrested him. The court proceedings revealed that Rozycki had admitted to attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming. Prosecutor Kevin Wardlaw emphasized that early in the online conversations, Rozycki was aware he was speaking to a 15-year-old, yet he continued to pursue the meeting with sexual intent.

During the hearing at Newcastle Crown Court, Mr. Wardlaw detailed the nature of the conversations, stating, “Within a short time, the conversation turned sexual,” and highlighting Rozycki’s requests for illicit photographs and graphic descriptions of sexual acts. The evidence made it clear that Rozycki intended to engage in full, penetrative sex with what he believed was a minor.

In sentencing, Recorder Ben Nolan imposed a community order for three years on Rozycki, along with a five-year sexual harm prevention order and a five-year registration on the sex offenders register. The judge explained that these measures were in the public interest and aimed to assist Rozycki in addressing any underlying issues related to his intentions towards underage boys. The court acknowledged that Rozycki had no prior criminal record, and his barrister, Tony Cornberg, submitted a character reference attesting to his generally good conduct.

Recorder Nolan concluded by emphasizing the seriousness of the case, stating, “You exchanged indecent suggestions and indecent intentions to someone you thought was 15-years-old.” The sentence reflected the gravity of the offence and the importance of protecting minors from online predators, while also considering Rozycki’s lack of previous convictions and character references.