JOHN ARMITAGE FROM GAINESBOROUGH AND WAKEFIELD CAUGHT IN SHOCKING PAEDOPHILE STING IN NEWCASTLE

In a disturbing case that highlights the dangers posed by convicted sex offenders, John Armitage, a man with a troubling criminal history, traveled a significant distance from Gainsborough to Newcastle upon Tyne with the apparent intent of engaging in sexual activity with a 14-year-old girl. The incident unfolded in March 2019 when Armitage, who had previously served time for offences involving young girls, believed he was about to meet a minor he had been communicating with online.

According to court reports, Armitage had been in contact with a girl he believed to be 14, using a dating app that initially restricted communication to adults over 18. Over a series of messages, he was informed that she was only 14 but continued to pursue the conversation, expressing a desire to meet her for sexual purposes. He even suggested that he could pretend to be her father and arrange for her to take a week off school, so they could meet in person. His messages included promises to be gentle and discussions about sexual activities, revealing a disturbing level of intent.

Unbeknownst to Armitage, the girl he was communicating with was not a real minor but a member of the Net Justice Group, a vigilant online organization dedicated to trapping paedophiles. They had set up a fake profile to lure individuals like Armitage into their trap. When he arrived at Newcastle railway station, expecting to meet 'Ellie,' he was confronted by members of the group and subsequently arrested by police who had been called to the scene.

Prosecutor Phil Howes detailed the case, explaining that Armitage had initially contacted 'Ellie' on a dating platform meant for adults. Despite being told she was only 14, he persisted in his attempts to meet her, even suggesting that he contact her school under false pretenses to facilitate their meeting. The court was told that Armitage's actions were part of a pattern of predatory behavior, with the period of offending spanning from March 12 to April 14 of the previous year.

The court also heard about Armitage's extensive criminal record. He, aged 40 and residing on Warren Close in Gainsborough, had previously been convicted in 2008 for sexual assault involving two girls under the age of 13, resulting in a four-year prison sentence. Additionally, he had multiple convictions for failing to comply with sex offender registration requirements, as well as a conviction for outraging public decency. Between September 2015 and April 2018, he had made a total of 958 indecent photographs of children, including 164 deemed to be in the most serious category. He also possessed prohibited images of children and cannabis.

Judge Hirst addressed the court, emphasizing the severity of Armitage's actions. He pointed out that the defendant had been told the girl was 14 and that her mother was very strict. The judge highlighted the disturbing nature of the conversations, which involved discussions about sexual acts and the suggestion that Armitage could pretend to be her father to facilitate their meeting. The judge condemned the persistent and manipulative nature of Armitage's communications, including his plans to deceive the girl’s school.

In sentencing, Judge Hirst imposed a custodial term of five years and nine months, comprising three years and nine months in prison and an additional two-year license period during which Armitage could be recalled to prison if he breaches conditions. Furthermore, he was subjected to an indefinite sexual harm prevention order and was placed on the sex offenders' register for life, reflecting the gravity of his offences and the ongoing risk he poses.

Earlier in February 2019, Armitage had admitted to attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming and inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, with these offences also linked to the period between March 12 and April 14 of the previous year. He pleaded guilty to multiple counts of possessing indecent images of children, including the most serious category, and to possessing prohibited images and cannabis. His criminal history also includes a 2008 conviction for sexual assault and failures to comply with sex offender registration requirements. He was remanded in custody for pre-sentence reports and was scheduled to return to court for sentencing on March 8.

In a separate incident in January 2008, Armitage pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a six-year-old girl at a New Year’s Eve party in Wakefield. The assault was reported after the girl provided a detailed account to police. Although he had no prior offences at that time, records showed nine similar allegations over a decade. The court ordered him to register as a sex offender and he was due to face sentencing at Leeds Crown Court in early February. His residence at the time was on Derwent Road, Wakefield, where his wife and child lived, but her concerns led to the end of their relationship. The court’s proceedings underscored the pattern of predatory behavior and the serious threat he continues to pose to the community.