MITCHELL TAYLOR CAUGHT IN BURSLEM PLANNING SEXUAL MEETING WITH 13-YEAR-OLD GIRL

A man from Burslem narrowly avoided immediate imprisonment after attempting to engage in sexual activity with what he believed was a 13-year-old girl. In reality, he was communicating with a group of paedophile hunters who set out to catch individuals like him. Mitchell Taylor, who was 22 years old at the time, initiated contact with multiple social media accounts claiming to belong to underage girls. His intent was clear: he planned to meet the supposed 13-year-old girl at Stoke Railway Station on May 28, 2021.

During his online interactions, Taylor engaged with a fake profile named 'Ellie,' which was designed to appear as a young girl. He expressed romantic interest and shared explicit images, indicating a disturbing level of intent. His actions were part of a pattern of communication with minors, and he had a prior criminal record that added to the seriousness of his case.

Following his online activities, Taylor was confronted by the paedophile hunter group, which had been monitoring his communications. Authorities swiftly responded, leading to his arrest. On December 17, 2021, Taylor admitted that he was aware he was speaking with a child but insisted that he had no intention of engaging in sexual activity. Despite this, he pleaded guilty to attempting to meet a child for sexual purposes, having been caught in the act of sexual grooming.

The court proceedings resulted in a sentence that included a two-year suspended prison term, meaning he would not serve time immediately but could be sent to prison if he reoffended. Additionally, Taylor was subjected to a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order, which restricts his contact with minors and monitors his online activity. He was also ordered to complete 100 hours of unpaid community service, pay £500 in court costs, and attend a sex offender rehabilitation course.

The judge acknowledged that Taylor’s mental state was complicated by significant learning disabilities, which influenced his behavior and decision-making. It was noted that since engaging with support services, his offending behavior had ceased. The court emphasized that, despite his intellectual vulnerabilities, there was clear evidence of intent to have sexual contact, but also recognized his vulnerabilities and the need for ongoing support to prevent future offenses.