MANJIT SINGH FROM BIRMINGHAM AND DARLINGTON JAILED FOR CHILD SEX OFFENSES
In a disturbing case that highlights the dangers of online predators, Manjit Singh, a 40-year-old man with ties to both Birmingham and Darlington, has been sentenced to two and a half years in prison for attempting to engage in sexual activities with a minor.The incident came to light after Singh attempted to arrange a meeting with a 12-year-old girl, whom he believed was a young girl seeking companionship, but who was actually an undercover decoy profile created by a child protection organization called 'One Reason'.
Singh’s actions unfolded in mid-2018, when he initiated contact through social media, believing he was communicating with a young girl named 'Daniella'.
Over the course of eleven messages, Singh’s conversations with the decoy quickly shifted from casual chat to explicit sexual content.
The man, who was residing in Darlington, County Durham at the time, then asked to exchange phone numbers, moving the conversation to WhatsApp, a popular messaging platform.
During these exchanges, Singh proposed that they meet at a hotel, suggesting he would pick her up in Darlington and that they should spend the night together.
His intentions were clear, and he was actively planning to meet the girl for sexual purposes.
Prosecutor Rachel Masters told Teesside Crown Court on July 4 that when Singh was rejected by the decoy, he responded with aggression and made disturbing comments about making her his slave, revealing his predatory mindset.
Following the online interactions, paedophile hunters traced Singh to his home and alerted the police.
Investigations revealed that Singh had been communicating with the decoy, as well as other minors, between mid-April and the end of May.
During police interviews, Singh claimed that his wife had been unwell and that she had joined a dating site seeking friendship and sexual encounters.
He also admitted to chatting with three individuals under the age of 16.
Judge Howard Crowson, presiding over the case, sentenced Singh to two and a half years in prison.
In his remarks, the judge emphasized the severity of Singh’s actions, stating, “This was not looking at a dating site.
This was children as young as 12.
Your feeling that this is a crime without a victim shows you fail to appreciate you were trying very hard indeed to commit a serious crime.
Grave harm was intended.” Since his arrest, Singh has been living in Birmingham, reportedly out of concern for potential retaliation from locals in Darlington, where his family resides.
Singh pleaded guilty to charges of attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity, attempting to cause a child to watch a sexual act, and attempting to engage in sexual communication with a minor, acknowledging the gravity of his offenses.
