DUSHMANTA KARA AND SHOCKING CHILD SEX OFFENCE IN DURHAM
A highly regarded academic has been sentenced to prison after attempting to arrange a sexual encounter with what he believed was a 14-year-old boy in Durham.The man, identified as Dushmanta Kara, had recently taken up a teaching post at Durham University and left behind his wife and child when he came to the UK.
The incident unfolded after Kara contacted a profile named ‘TwinkFreeNow’ on the popular online gay dating platform Grindr on April 25, the day the profile was created.
Court proceedings revealed that this profile, which displayed a photograph of a boy with short dark hair, was actually a phishing account set up by an undercover police officer as a decoy.
During the trial at Durham Crown Court, it was explained that although the profile claimed the individual was 18— the minimum age for users on Grindr—the decoy quickly disclosed his true age as 14.
This fact was not verified on the platform, which does not require age confirmation.
Prosecutor Paul Newcombe stated that the decoy’s profile indicated a location only about four kilometers from Kara’s own whereabouts, which was consistent with Kara’s expected location.
Kara exchanged messages with the decoy, including photographs.
He sent a picture of his upper body, which was topless, and the conversation soon shifted to discussions of sexual activity.
The decoy indicated he was new to such encounters but conveyed that he was available that night, alone at home, and willing to meet.
As the messages progressed, both individuals exchanged photographs, and their locations were monitored as they traveled toward the predetermined meeting spot in Gilesgate, Durham.
However, before any meeting could take place, Kara was apprehended by police upon arrival at the location.
During police interviews, Kara admitted to having used Grindr since his arrival in the UK in February.
He acknowledged exchanging messages that involved plans for kissing, cuddling, and oral sex.
Nonetheless, he believed the decoy was 18 years old, although he admitted the profile picture appeared younger.
He claimed he was under the impression that he was engaging with an adult.
Kara, aged 31 and residing on Steavenson Street in Bowburn, appeared in court for his first hearing on May 26, where he pleaded guilty to charges including arranging or facilitating a child sex offence and attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming.
At the sentencing hearing held on July 13, Kara was assisted by a Hindi interpreter.
His defense counsel, Mark Styles, described the profound impact the case had on his client.
He highlighted references from colleagues at Durham University, portraying Kara as a highly respected academic.
Mr.
Styles emphasized that Kara had a dependent wife and a young child, and that his reputation and employment at Durham had been severely affected when he was dismissed in early June.
The loss of his job and reputation left him with limited financial resources.
He explained that Kara had arrived in the UK feeling isolated, lonely, and vulnerable, with no connections or support networks since February.
The defense argued that Kara was naïve to become involved in such criminal conduct and that he was persuaded by the decoy, despite the implausibility of a 14-year-old household with available sexual activity, as claimed.
The defense counselor expressed that Kara was eager to return to his home country to rebuild his life and had maintained regular contact with his wife.
Judge James Adkin addressed the court, noting that Kara did not find the age of the decoy problematic upon being informed he was 14.
The judge pointed out that Kara had contemplated penetrative sex when he arranged to meet the decoy in Gilesgate, where he was subsequently arrested.
Referring to current sentencing guidelines for such offences, which suggest an average of around five years’ imprisonment, Judge Adkin remarked on the increasing seriousness with which courts now treat this type of criminal activity.
Although the fact that the decoy was a police decoy was considered, the judge indicated that it should only warrant a small reduction in sentence.
In conclusion, the judge acknowledged Kara’s previous good character, his prompt guilty plea, and the respect he held within the academic community.
However, the seriousness of the offence ultimately led to a custodial sentence, reflecting the judiciary’s stance on child grooming and illegal sexual conduct involving minors in Durham.
