JOHN MILLER CAUGHT IN NEWPORT PAEDOPHILE STING AT MALPAS UNIONIST CLUB

A convicted sex offender was confronted and exposed by paedophile hunters outside a social club in Newport, where he was a member, after attempting to solicit explicit images from a minor. John Miller, aged 62, was identified and challenged near the Malpas Unionist Club during a covert operation carried out by members of Child Online Protection Enforcers (COPE) and Dank Dragons. The incident occurred on the evening of Saturday, January 11, and was subsequently livestreamed on Facebook, drawing an audience of over 89,000 viewers.

Prosecutor Joshua Scouller outlined the details of the case to Newport Crown Court, explaining that Miller believed he was communicating online with a 14-year-old girl. However, he was actually interacting with a decoy operated by paedophile hunters based in Northern Ireland. The decoy had set up the online profile to lure individuals seeking to engage in inappropriate conversations with minors.

According to Mr. Scouller, Miller repeatedly attempted to sexualize the conversation, showing a disturbing pattern of behavior. He sent explicit images of his genitals and nipples to the decoy and then asked for photographs of the girl in return via WhatsApp. The exchanges took place between New Year’s Day and January 11.

Following the confrontation, Miller was arrested by police officers. He subsequently pleaded guilty to attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, a serious offense that highlights the dangers posed by online predators.

During the court hearing, Recorder Robin Rouch noted that Miller had already served a sentence equivalent to five months in prison for similar offenses. Despite this, he was sentenced to 46 weeks in jail; however, the sentence was suspended for 18 months, reflecting a belief in the potential for rehabilitation.

Miller was also ordered to register as a sex offender for a period of 10 years and was subjected to a 10-year sexual harm prevention order, aimed at protecting the community from any future offending. The case underscores the ongoing efforts of law enforcement and community groups to combat online child exploitation and bring offenders to justice in Newport.