JOHN SAVAGE FROM STANLEY CAUGHT GROOMING 14-YEAR-OLD GIRL NEAR DURHAM

In October 2005, a disturbing case emerged involving John Savage, a man from Stanley, County Durham, who was found guilty of engaging in an inappropriate and predatory relationship with a 14-year-old girl. The incident unfolded after Savage, who was married at the time, initiated contact with the young girl through increasingly flirtatious messages, which eventually led to meetings in person.

According to court proceedings at Durham Crown Court, Savage, now aged 37, began texting the girl shortly after they first met. The messages included flirtatious language, with Savage referring to her as his "sex bomb." These exchanges started within weeks of their initial encounter, which took place while Savage was doing DIY work for the girl’s mother in August of the previous year.

Prosecutor Ros Scott Bell detailed that the pair met on six separate occasions in a car park located near Savage’s workplace and the girl’s school. During these meetings, Savage made explicit statements about their future, telling her that if she were older, he would leave his wife and run away with her. He also expressed a desire to have sex with her once she turned 16.

To conceal his communications, Savage used a second SIM card on his mobile phone, ensuring that his wife would not discover the messages exchanged with the girl. When his wife eventually found a message from the girl, Savage reportedly responded by burning the second SIM card, an act that highlighted his attempt to hide the inappropriate contact.

During the court hearing, Ms. Scott Bell emphasized that Savage’s actions constituted sexual grooming, a serious offense involving the manipulation of a minor for sexual purposes. Savage, who works as a tele-sales representative for a motoring company, admitted to meeting the girl following these grooming behaviors.

In his defense, Jim Withyman, representing Savage, acknowledged the severity of the situation. He stated, “He accepts these messages were totally inappropriate. He accepts that eventually it might have led to a sexual relationship. Things were clearly heading to a wholly inappropriate relationship with this girl.”

As a result of his actions, Savage was sentenced to a three-year community rehabilitation order. During this period, he is required to participate in a sex offenders’ program. Additionally, he was ordered to pay costs amounting to £1,062 and must register as a sex offender for five years, a measure intended to monitor and prevent further offenses.