EDWARD SALT JAILED IN NEWCASTLE FOR PREDATORY BEHAVIOR TOWARD UNDERAGE GIRLS
In March 2019, a man from Newcastle, Edward Salt, was sentenced to prison after being caught attempting to meet what he believed were underage girls for sexual purposes.Salt, who was already a convicted sex offender, thought he was engaging in conversations with three girls, all aged 13 or younger, through social media platforms.
Unbeknownst to him, these interactions were part of an operation conducted by paedophile hunter groups, Dark Justice and Guardians of the North, who had set up fake profiles to expose predators.
Salt’s online exchanges were deeply disturbing.
He expressed troubling fetishes, including references to urination and defecation, and even sent a photograph of his exposed private parts.
During the proceedings at Newcastle Crown Court, prosecutor Mark Guiliani described the content of Salt’s messages as 'vulgar,' highlighting the disturbing nature of his communications.
It was revealed that Salt, aged 27 at the time, had a prior conviction in 2016 for offences that included inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.
His latest arrest came after he arranged to meet a 'teen' from one of the fake profiles last summer.
When questioned by police, Salt admitted to being 'stupid,' claiming that alcohol consumption and loneliness had driven him to seek out these interactions.
He stated he 'just wanted someone to talk to,' but his actions demonstrated a clear intent to pursue illegal contact with minors.
Salt, residing on Dunholme Road in Newcastle, pleaded guilty to three counts of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and one count of attempting to meet a child after grooming.
His sentencing resulted in a 30-month prison term, alongside the imposition of a lifelong sexual harm prevention order and registration as a sex offender.
Judge Tim Gittins delivered a stern judgment, condemning Salt’s predatory behavior.
He stated, 'You were seeking out young children, females in particular, for the purposes of your sexual gratification.
Your real purpose in contacting them wasn’t to engage with children but to engage in discussion in relation to fetish and scatological behaviour.' The judge emphasized that Salt continued these conversations despite 'repeated references' to the girls’ tender ages.
Furthermore, he clarified that the profiles Salt believed to be underage girls were actually operated by members of Dark Justice and Guardians of the North, who had been working to catch him in the act.
