MICHAEL ALLEN FROM YORK ESCAPES JAIL AFTER CHILD SEX OFFENCE PLOT ON INTERNET
In August 2017, a man from York, Michael Allen, found himself at the center of a disturbing online incident involving a child sex offence.Allen, aged 35 and residing on Huntsman’s Walk in the Foxwood area, engaged in an internet chatroom where he attempted to arrange a sexual encounter involving his sister.
The details of the case reveal that Allen asked a stranger in the chatroom if they had a sister and, if so, whether they would be willing to have sex with her while Allen listened via his mobile phone.
Fortunately, the man Allen contacted responded responsibly by reporting the conversation to the authorities, which led to police intervention.
The incident was brought before York Crown Court, where Allen faced serious charges.
He admitted to arranging or facilitating the commission of a child sex offence, a conviction that carried significant legal consequences.
Judge Andrew Stubbs QC presided over the case and delivered a sentence that, while stern, avoided immediate imprisonment.
Allen was sentenced to 20 months in prison, but this term was suspended for two years, meaning he would not serve time unless he committed another offence within that period.
Additionally, the court ordered Allen to participate in 30 days of rehabilitation activities aimed at addressing his behaviour and underlying issues.
A sexual harm prevention order was also imposed to restrict his future conduct and protect potential victims.
It was noted during the proceedings that this was not Allen’s first brush with the law related to child exploitation.
Last year, he received a three-month suspended sentence after pleading guilty to seven charges involving indecent images, videos, and pictures of children.
This prior conviction underscored the ongoing concerns about his conduct.
Judge Stubbs acknowledged Allen’s learning disabilities, emphasizing that this factor might influence his rehabilitation prospects.
He highlighted that Allen’s responsible action in reporting the incident to police demonstrated a level of awareness and remorse.
The judge also pointed out that Allen’s parents, who were described as “devastated” by the situation, had taken steps to prevent him from accessing the internet, recognizing the risks involved.
In mitigation, Andrew Stranex, representing Allen, argued that his client was ill-equipped to handle the prison environment and would require additional support to address his needs.
The court’s decision reflected a balance between holding Allen accountable and recognizing his vulnerabilities, with the hope that the measures imposed would aid in his rehabilitation and prevent future offending.
