MARK TURNBULL CAUGHT IN NEWCASTLE HOUSING ESTATE BY PAEDOPHILE HUNTERS

In November 2018, a disturbing incident unfolded in Newcastle involving a man named Mark Turnbull, aged 51, who was caught in a predatory act targeting a minor. The case drew significant attention after vigilant members of the community and a group known as Dark Justice collaborated to expose his intentions and ensure he faced justice.

Turnbull believed he was communicating with a 15-year-old girl through the social media platform Scout. Unbeknownst to him, he was actually engaging with members of Dark Justice, a vigilante group dedicated to catching individuals attempting to exploit minors. The group had been monitoring his online activity and decided to confront him when he arrived at a designated meeting point.

The confrontation took place at St Anthony's Park in Walker, Newcastle, where Turnbull had arranged to meet what he thought was the underage girl. As he arrived, members of Dark Justice approached him, and he quickly sped off in his vehicle, heading towards the nearby Daisy Hill housing estate. His attempt to escape was thwarted when he abandoned his car, and with the assistance of local residents, he was eventually apprehended.

A spokesperson for Dark Justice detailed the operation: "We followed him at a safe distance until he abandoned his car, then continued on foot. We informed local residents of our actions, and they helped us locate him. He was hiding in an alleyway, and one of the residents found a mobile phone he had hidden under a bin near the alley. Without that evidence, securing a conviction would have been much more difficult. We are incredibly grateful to the community for their support. Once we had the evidence, we contacted the police, and he was arrested."

Footage from the operation shows Turnbull attempting to conceal his face beneath a coat as he cowers in the back alley. A member of Dark Justice confronts him, stating, "You knew exactly how old the girl was. You are lucky you did not destroy some girl’s life. You would have if you had got your hands on her."

Following the incident, Turnbull appeared at Newcastle Crown Court, where he pleaded guilty to attempting to meet a girl under 16 following grooming. The court sentenced him to 18 months in prison, but the sentence was suspended for two years. Additionally, he was ordered to participate in a rehabilitation activity for two years, pay a victim surcharge of £140, and sign the sex offenders register for ten years. He was also mandated to attend a sexual offenders programme for a minimum of 54 days, emphasizing the seriousness of his actions and the ongoing efforts to prevent such predatory behavior in the community.