CRAMLINGTON PERVERT JOSEPH COULTHARD CAUGHT EN ROUTE TO MEET UNDERAGE GIRL

In April 2021, a disturbing incident unfolded in Cramlington involving a man named Joseph Coulthard, who was apprehended by police while on his way to meet what he believed was a 15-year-old girl for sexual activity. The arrest occurred during a routine traffic stop when officers noticed Coulthard using his mobile phone behind the wheel. Upon pulling him over, authorities observed that he was intensely focused on his device and appeared to be under the influence of cannabis, which was later confirmed through police investigation.

Further inquiries revealed that Coulthard had been engaged in a series of explicit and predatory messages with what he thought was a minor girl. These messages were exchanged via the Skout app, a platform often exploited by predators to target vulnerable minors. Coulthard had explicitly expressed his desire to engage in sexual acts with the girl, whom he believed to be 15 years old. In one of the messages, he stated, “I would still love to f*** you,” and detailed sexual activities he wished to perform.

He also inquired whether she could sneak out of her home to meet him, to which she responded that she could because her mother had been drinking. An arrangement was made for the meeting to take place at a pub shortly after midnight. However, before the meeting could occur, police intercepted Coulthard on his journey.

Prosecutor Alec Burns, speaking at Newcastle Crown Court, explained that police officers in Cramlington observed Coulthard’s vehicle and decided to stop him. The officers noted his frantic behavior, particularly his intense focus on his phone, and detected signs that he was under the influence of cannabis. It was evident that Coulthard was en route to meet the supposed minor girl.

The investigation uncovered additional disturbing details. Coulthard had been involved in similar illicit conversations with another decoy profile on Skout, set up by a different paedophile hunting group. In these exchanges, he expressed sexual interest in a girl he believed to be 15, including desires for sexual intercourse. When questioned by police, Coulthard claimed that he thought the first profile was an adult and that the second was part of a role-playing scenario.

Joseph Coulthard, aged 32 and residing on Nairn Road in Cramlington, pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity, attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, and arranging or facilitating a child sex offence. His guilty plea led to a sentence of two years and nine months in prison, reflecting the serious nature of his actions and the threat posed to minors.