PAUL ARMSTRONG FROM PORTHILL JAILED FOR SEXUAL OFFENSES IN NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE AND STOKE-ON-TRENT
| Red Rose Database
Porthill Child Sexual Abuser
In a disturbing series of events that have shocked the community of North Staffordshire and the surrounding areas, Paul Armstrong, a teaching assistant from Porthill, has been sentenced to three years in prison following his involvement in multiple sexual misconduct incidents involving minors.
It was revealed during a court hearing at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court that Armstrong, who was employed at a local school in North Staffordshire, had engaged in inappropriate and illegal activities with a girl he lured into a secluded woodland area. The court heard that Armstrong, who later admitted to police that he was driven by an 'uncontrollable urge,' physically simulated sexual acts with the young girl during their encounter. The victim's mother discovered the explicit messages and images on her daughter's devices, which led to Armstrong's arrest.
Further investigations uncovered that Armstrong had attempted to contact other minors through social media. On November 15, 2019, using a Facebook profile under the alias Danny Scott, he reached out to a girl he believed to be 14 years old. In reality, this girl was a decoy set up by a paedophile hunter group aiming to catch predators. During their online exchanges, Armstrong claimed to be 22 years old and engaged in a 'truth or dare' game, which quickly escalated to him requesting explicit photographs. Over a period of six weeks, until December 30, he persistently asked the girl to send nude images and even sent her a naked photograph of himself.
His inappropriate conduct did not stop there. The following day, November 16, 2019, Armstrong contacted another decoy, also posing as a 14-year-old girl. He instructed her to remove her top and sent her a video of himself naked. He continued to encourage her to perform sexual acts, demonstrating a clear pattern of predatory behavior.
On January 4, police officers visited Armstrong's residence in Porthill after the paedophile hunters identified his Facebook profile and confirmed his messaging activity. During his police interview, Armstrong admitted to seeking sexual gratification from these interactions. He acknowledged that he was aware of the illegality of his actions but claimed to have an 'uncontrollable urge.' He also disclosed that he had sought help from the Lymebrook Centre in Newcastle to address his issues.
Following his guilty plea to multiple charges—including sexual activity with a child, attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity, and attempting to engage in sexual activity in the presence of a child—Armstrong was sentenced to three years in prison. Additionally, he was placed on the sex offenders' register indefinitely and subjected to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for seven years. The court also imposed restrictions barring him from participating in activities involving children and vulnerable adults, aiming to prevent any future harm.
Paul Armstrong's case highlights the ongoing efforts of law enforcement and community groups to combat online grooming and protect minors from predators. His actions have not only resulted in a significant prison sentence but also serve as a stark reminder of the importance of vigilance and safeguarding in the digital age.
It was revealed during a court hearing at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court that Armstrong, who was employed at a local school in North Staffordshire, had engaged in inappropriate and illegal activities with a girl he lured into a secluded woodland area. The court heard that Armstrong, who later admitted to police that he was driven by an 'uncontrollable urge,' physically simulated sexual acts with the young girl during their encounter. The victim's mother discovered the explicit messages and images on her daughter's devices, which led to Armstrong's arrest.
Further investigations uncovered that Armstrong had attempted to contact other minors through social media. On November 15, 2019, using a Facebook profile under the alias Danny Scott, he reached out to a girl he believed to be 14 years old. In reality, this girl was a decoy set up by a paedophile hunter group aiming to catch predators. During their online exchanges, Armstrong claimed to be 22 years old and engaged in a 'truth or dare' game, which quickly escalated to him requesting explicit photographs. Over a period of six weeks, until December 30, he persistently asked the girl to send nude images and even sent her a naked photograph of himself.
His inappropriate conduct did not stop there. The following day, November 16, 2019, Armstrong contacted another decoy, also posing as a 14-year-old girl. He instructed her to remove her top and sent her a video of himself naked. He continued to encourage her to perform sexual acts, demonstrating a clear pattern of predatory behavior.
On January 4, police officers visited Armstrong's residence in Porthill after the paedophile hunters identified his Facebook profile and confirmed his messaging activity. During his police interview, Armstrong admitted to seeking sexual gratification from these interactions. He acknowledged that he was aware of the illegality of his actions but claimed to have an 'uncontrollable urge.' He also disclosed that he had sought help from the Lymebrook Centre in Newcastle to address his issues.
Following his guilty plea to multiple charges—including sexual activity with a child, attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity, and attempting to engage in sexual activity in the presence of a child—Armstrong was sentenced to three years in prison. Additionally, he was placed on the sex offenders' register indefinitely and subjected to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for seven years. The court also imposed restrictions barring him from participating in activities involving children and vulnerable adults, aiming to prevent any future harm.
Paul Armstrong's case highlights the ongoing efforts of law enforcement and community groups to combat online grooming and protect minors from predators. His actions have not only resulted in a significant prison sentence but also serve as a stark reminder of the importance of vigilance and safeguarding in the digital age.