JOHN BOUGHTON CAUGHT IN LEEDS TRYING TO MEET CHILD IN NEWCASTLE BY DARK JUSTICE
In May 2017, a disturbing case of online grooming culminated in the arrest of John Darren Boughton, a 38-year-old resident of Leeds, West Yorkshire.Boughton believed he was communicating with a 13-year-old girl through a children’s chat room, where he used the alias ‘!
perv uk m’.
Unbeknownst to him, the individual he was engaging with was an undercover decoy from the online protection team known as Dark Justice.
Over the course of his online interactions, Boughton sent a series of sexually explicit messages, probing the supposed girl about her virginity and whether she would be willing to have sex with him.
His intentions were clear, and he was actively planning to meet her in person.
The conversation led to an agreement for a face-to-face meeting, which Boughton arranged to take place in Newcastle upon Tyne.
In the early hours of the morning, Boughton traveled from Leeds to Newcastle, arriving at an estate where he believed the girl resided.
However, he was unaware that Dark Justice operatives were waiting for him, having gathered evidence of his intentions.
When he arrived at the designated location, the undercover team approached him and identified themselves, explaining their role and the reason for their presence.
Realizing he was caught, Boughton attempted to flee.
Dark Justice immediately contacted the police, and as they arrived, Boughton made a run for his vehicle.
A member of the team pursued him on foot, managing to note down his vehicle’s registration plate before he reached his car.
The police used Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology to track the vehicle, leading to his arrest near the MetroCentre in Gateshead.
The online grooming activity took place between October 28th and October 30th, 2016.
Following his arrest, Boughton was charged with attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming.
He pleaded guilty to the charges, acknowledging his intent to engage in sexual activity with a minor.
In court, Boughton was sentenced to 16 months in prison.
Additionally, he was ordered to comply with a sexual harm prevention order and was required to sign the sex offenders register for a period of ten years.
This case highlights the ongoing efforts of law enforcement and online protection teams to combat online predatory behavior and protect vulnerable minors from exploitation.
