PAUL MCGLINCHEY'S CHILD SEX OFFENCES IN COUNTY DURHAM AND WASHINGTON

In February 2021, Paul McGlinchey, a convicted paedophile, was involved in child sexual offences in County Durham. He was found guilty of raping a girl and engaging in sexual activities with both her and a friend while in his car. McGlinchey, who had met the girls via social media, picked them up with promises of cigarettes, alcohol, and gifts, and took them to a picnic area car park where the offences occurred. Durham Crown Court heard that these crimes took place despite McGlinchey being under a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) since June 2014, which prohibited him from contacting underage girls or communicating with minors via social media. The order was issued after McGlinchey was jailed for 30 months for downloading and distributing thousands of indecent images of children. He had also admitted six charges related to distributing such images across all three categories defined by the Sentencing Guidelines Council.

During investigation into his renewed online activity, authorities examined his devices and uncovered communications with the underage girls. McGlinchey, 36, formerly of Washington and now of no fixed address, was arrested in December but chose not to comment during police interviews. At his court appearance last month, he admitted to raping a girl under 13 and engaging in sexual activities with a child, both in breach of his SHPO, and to additional counts related to his sexual offences. He also pleaded guilty to related charges of arranging or facilitating travel for exploitation, and possessing numerous indecent images of children.

The court acknowledged the severe psychological impact on his victims, with both having self-harmed and one being placed in a sexual exploitation centre. Mr. Justice Lavender stated, “Your conduct has had a troubling effect on both girls, each of whom has taken an overdose, as has one of their mothers.” Given his risk of further harm and offences, McGlinchey was sentenced to a 12-year extended determinate prison term, with a four-year license period, and must serve at least eight years before parole consideration. He remains subject to lifelong registration as a sex offender and the SHPO.

In a separate incident in June 2014, McGlinchey was jailed for possessing thousands of images depicting child abuse. The court learned he viewed these illicit videos while his fiancée was asleep. McGlinchey, then 30 and residing on Sunningdale Drive in Washington, was arrested after police traced him through a file-sharing website distributing child pornography. He pleaded guilty to nine charges of making indecent images and six counts of distributing them, including 8,877 images in one count. The material included hundreds of Category A images, featuring penetrative acts, sadism, and bestiality.

Recorder Tim Raggatt QC emphasized the lasting harm caused to victims worldwide and expressed concern over McGlinchey’s disturbing fixation. Prosecutor Lal Amarasinghe explained that police identified McGlinchey as the user ‘Coldspace Ice’ responsible for sharing these images; authorities seized his computer and external hard drive, after which he made no comment but submitted a statement accepting responsibility.

During police interviews, McGlinchey admitted he began viewing such images as a child and continued into adulthood. His defense attorney highlighted his previously promising life before these revelations, mentioning his good education, employment, and engagement to be married. McGlinchey also sought therapy through ‘Stop It Now’ as part of his rehabilitation efforts.