OSCAR GLENDINNING: WHITLEY BAY SEX OFFENDER BRANDS DANGEROUS AFTER REPEATED CHILD SEXUAL OFFENCES IN NEWCASTLE

In May 2018, a disturbing case emerged involving Oscar Glendinning, a known sex offender from Whitley Bay, who was once again at the center of a serious criminal investigation. The case revealed that Glendinning, who had previously served time for abusing multiple young girls, had reoffended shortly after his release, highlighting the ongoing risks posed by repeat offenders.

Glendinning, aged 24 and residing on Victoria Avenue in Whitley Bay, was found to have engaged in a series of criminal acts involving a minor girl he met through social media. The court heard that he had befriended a 14-year-old girl on Facebook, a platform he used to groom her for sexual activity. After establishing contact, Glendinning arranged to meet her in the city center of Newcastle, where the alleged assault took place.

According to court proceedings, Glendinning provided the girl with alcohol—specifically vodka—before engaging in sexual activity with her inside an abandoned building near Newcastle Arena. The girl, who initially told Glendinning she was 15, later revealed her true age, but by then, the sexual encounter had already occurred. The incident took place during the Christmas holiday period, with the girl claiming she was going into town and meeting Glendinning, who had arrived with alcohol in hand.

Prosecutor Christine Egerton detailed the events to the court, explaining that the girl went to buy cola as a mixer while Glendinning brought the vodka. They then moved to a secluded, derelict area, which she described as an old lead factory. There, they sat in a downstairs room, drank together, and discussed having sex. The sexual activity was unprotected, and after the girl disclosed her age, Glendinning left, claiming he needed to return to his hostel.

It was not until ten months later that the girl confided in a counselor about what had happened, prompting police involvement. Investigations revealed that Glendinning had a history of similar offending. A friend of his disclosed that Glendinning frequently searched Facebook for young girls to message, often using the “people you may know” feature to add strangers and initiate contact.

Glendinning’s criminal record was extensive. He was initially jailed in January 2014 for sexual offences against six girls aged between 12 and 15. He was released in September 2015 but was recalled to prison shortly after for breaching his license conditions. His offending resumed in December of that year, with him sending numerous messages to young girls, including one to a girl who had just turned 14, saying, “sorry for the random add.”

During the court hearing, it was revealed that Glendinning had used a false name to set up a Facebook account after his last release, in direct violation of a sexual harm prevention order imposed in 2014. The court heard that he had deliberately breached this order, which was meant to restrict his online activity and contact with minors.

Judge James Wood sentenced Glendinning to eight years in prison for his latest offences. The court also ordered him to sign the sex offenders register for life and imposed a lifelong sexual harm prevention order. The judge emphasized the danger Glendinning posed, especially to young females and children, stating, “She was a vulnerable person, as her victim personal statement makes perfectly clear.”

Recorder Wood concluded by condemning Glendinning’s actions, highlighting that it was with the help of a friend that he had managed to set up a Facebook account under a false name after his previous incarceration. The judge described him as a dangerous individual, particularly to young girls, and stressed the importance of ongoing monitoring and restrictions to prevent further harm.