NEWBURY PAEDOPHILE IAN DE MELVIN SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL CHAT WITH TEENAGE GIRLS IN SCOTLAND AND ENGLAND

In June 2022, a man from Newbury named Ian De Melvin was sentenced to prison after being found guilty of attempting to engage in sexual communications with underage girls. The case drew significant attention due to the disturbing nature of his actions and the emotional impact on the victims' families.

De Melvin appeared before Reading Crown Court earlier this week, where he faced justice for his conduct involving two separate incidents that took place in October 2020 and June 2021. Prosecutor Jonathan Sank outlined the details of the case, emphasizing the gravity of the offences and the defendant's predatory behavior.

According to the prosecution, the first offence involved De Melvin believing he was communicating with a 13-year-old girl named 'Mia.' During their online conversations, he disclosed his age as 39, which was ten years younger than his actual age at the time. The chat quickly turned sexual, with De Melvin asking about her activities with a fictional previous boyfriend and making arrangements to meet her in person. He even offered money to facilitate the meeting. However, when the day arrived, De Melvin failed to show up at the designated meeting place.

In the second incident, De Melvin initiated contact with a profile named 'Jay,' which initially indicated she was 19 years old. However, during their conversation, she revealed she was only 14. Despite this, De Melvin continued engaging in sexual conversations with her. The chat progressed to the point where he agreed to meet her at an address in Newcastle, Scotland, demonstrating a clear intent to carry out a sexual encounter with a minor.

De Melvin, of Newtown Road, admitted to two counts of attempting to engage in sexual communications with a child during a previous court appearance. His actions caused considerable distress, and the case highlighted the dangers posed by online predators targeting vulnerable young girls.

During the hearing, De Melvin's defense lawyer, Philip Allman, acknowledged his client's remorse. He stated, “He accepts what he has done. To say that this caused destruction in his life is an understatement. He tells me it was a deeply dark point in his life, and that he had no intent to meet up with young girls. It was the chat itself and the excitement which he got carried away with. The idea was always better than the reality.”

He also expressed the defendant's fear and concern, saying, “To think that someone could have done this to my young daughter is terrifying.”

Judge Kirsty Real delivered the sentence, emphasizing the seriousness of the offences. She stated, “You were contemplating penetrative sexual activity with a 13-year-old, and you got cold feet on both occasions. The offences are so serious only immediate custody is appropriate.”

As a result, De Melvin was sentenced to a total of six months in prison. He will be required to serve half of this sentence before being eligible for parole. Additionally, he was placed under a seven-year sexual harm prevention order, restricting his contact with minors and monitoring his activities to prevent further offences.

The 52-year-old defendant appeared at Reading Crown Court on Tuesday, June 28, to face the consequences of his actions, which have left a lasting impact on the victims and their families, and serve as a stark reminder of the dangers of online grooming and predatory behavior.