OSSIE ORAM FROM BYKER SENTENCED AFTER ONLINE GROOMING PLOT IN NEWCASTLE

In a case that has sent shockwaves through the Newcastle community, Ossie Oram, a 29-year-old resident of Byker, found himself at the center of a serious criminal investigation involving online grooming and sexual misconduct. The incident unfolded in January 2018 when Oram engaged in a series of disturbing communications with what he believed was a 13-year-old girl, but was in fact a trap set by vigilant paedophile hunters known as the Geordie Chasers.

According to court records, Oram initiated contact through the Lovoo dating website, where he believed he was speaking to a young girl. The court heard that within just two hours of starting the conversation, he began to speak in a highly sexual manner. During these exchanges, Oram sent explicit images of his genitals and even a video of himself performing a sex act. He also claimed to have previously engaged in sexual activity with a 14-year-old girl, although the veracity of this statement remains uncertain.

Oram’s intentions became increasingly clear as he arranged to meet the girl in person. He asked her to visit him so they could have sex, and he continued to send explicit images and videos, despite being reminded that he was communicating with a minor. The court was told that he inquired whether the girl had seen male genitals before, and explicitly asked her to come to his location for sexual activity.

When Oram arrived at the designated meeting point, he was confronted by members of the Geordie Chasers, who had been monitoring his online activity. The group’s intervention prevented any further harm and led to his arrest. During the court proceedings, Judge Robert Adams addressed Oram directly, stating, “You were told immediately you were communicating, or so you thought, with a 13-year-old. Within two hours, you started speaking in a sexual manner.”

The court also heard that Oram had sent a video and images of himself, and continued to pursue the meeting despite being aware of the girl’s age. He claimed to have had sexual encounters with a 14-year-old before, but the court noted that this claim was unverified. His actions demonstrated a clear intent to engage in sexual activity with a minor.

Oram faced multiple charges, including attempting to cause a child under 13 to view sexual images, attempting to incite a girl aged 13 to 15 to engage in sexual activity, and attempting to meet a girl under 16 following sexual grooming. He pleaded not guilty to the first two charges but admitted guilt to the third.

The Crown Prosecution Service clarified that counts one and two would be considered null due to his plea on the third charge, which encompasses the other allegations. On April 13, 2018, Oram was sentenced to a 15-month custodial sentence, suspended for two years. Additionally, he was handed a 10-year sexual harm prevention order, a 10-year sex offenders register requirement, a 54-day sexual rehabilitation order, and a 114-day rehabilitation order with the probation service.

The court was informed that Oram was classified as having a ‘High risk of sexually re-offending,’ although his risk of general re-offending was deemed low. This case underscores the ongoing efforts of law enforcement and community groups to combat online grooming and protect vulnerable minors from predatory behavior.