JOHN DICKINSON CAUGHT IN CRAWCROOK PAEDOPHILE STING BY DARK JUSTICE

In July 2017, a disturbing case unfolded involving John Dickinson, a resident of Crawcrook, Tyne and Wear, who attempted to engage in a sexual encounter with a girl he believed to be 14 years old. The incident was part of a sting operation conducted by the vigilant paedophile hunting group Dark Justice, which aims to protect minors from online predators.

Dark Justice operatives posed as a teenage girl named Amy on social media platforms, engaging Dickinson in conversation. Initially, Amy’s profile indicated she was 19 years old, but two days into their messaging, on June 19, Dickinson was informed that Amy was actually 14 and that she had lied to bypass the website’s over-18s policy. Despite this revelation, Dickinson continued to communicate with her, showing a disturbing willingness to pursue a meeting.

Prosecutor Rachel Masters detailed the conversation, revealing that Dickinson asked Amy if she had the facilities to use WhatsApp, and he provided his mobile number for further contact. He explicitly asked if she wanted to try sex, and in subsequent messages, he inquired about meeting up and what activities they might do together. Dickinson openly stated he was seeking fun or sex, prompting Amy to question whether his age was a deterrent. His response was that it was not, but he insisted that their relationship must remain secret, warning her that if he were caught, he could face imprisonment.

Further disturbing exchanges included Dickinson asking if Amy had ever seen a man’s penis and offering to send her a picture of himself. He also requested that she send a nude photograph to gauge her development, including her bust. The conversation grew more explicit, with Dickinson asking if she wanted to meet for sex and questioning whether she was mature enough for such activities.

Initially, Dickinson planned to meet Amy at Central Station in Newcastle, but he later canceled, citing police presence as a reason. Instead, he instructed her to take a bus or taxi to Crawcrook, where he was waiting at a bus stop. However, his plans were thwarted when members of Dark Justice, along with police officers, confronted him at the location. Dickinson was immediately arrested on suspicion of attempting to meet a minor for sexual purposes.

During police interviews, Dickinson claimed that his intentions were merely to 'teach the girl a lesson,' a statement that was met with condemnation. The court heard that he acknowledged he had gone too far and should have stopped once he realized she was only 14.

John Dickinson appeared before Newcastle Crown Court, where he previously pleaded guilty to one count of attempting to meet a child following grooming at Magistrates Court. The presiding judge, Recorder Ben Nolan, addressed him directly, emphasizing the seriousness of the offense. He noted that this case was a clear example of a sting operation by Dark Justice, which had successfully caught Dickinson in the act.

In sentencing, Recorder Nolan imposed a 12-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, along with a requirement for Dickinson to participate in a rehabilitation activity. Additionally, he was ordered to register as a sex offender and to adhere to a sexual harm prevention order for ten years, reflecting the ongoing risk and the need for supervision to protect the community from future offenses.