SAMUEL MANNION CAUGHT IN BLYTH POLICE STING TRYING TO SEXUALLY EXPLORE WITH 13-YEAR-OLD GIRL

A man from Blyth, Samuel Mannion, was apprehended by police authorities after attempting to engage in sexual conversations with a minor while at his girlfriend's residence. The incident unfolded when Mannion initiated an online chat with a social media profile that he believed belonged to a 13-year-old girl.

According to court proceedings, Mannion, 25 years old and residing on Poppy Drive, began communicating with the decoy profile on November 30. During their conversation, he quickly shifted the tone to highly sexualized topics, expressing his arousal by stating he was ‘horny’ and requesting explicit images and videos from the girl. Mannion also sent explicit images of himself engaged in a sexual act, further escalating the inappropriate nature of the exchange.

Unbeknownst to Mannion, the profile he was chatting with was operated by a police officer conducting an undercover operation. The authorities traced his online activity back to his mobile device, which was connected to the Wi-Fi at his girlfriend’s address in Blyth. This connection led to his swift arrest at the location. Police officers also took photographs of the bathroom at the residence to verify that it was indeed Mannion’s home, confirming his presence there during the arrest.

Prosecutor Emma Dowling outlined the details of the case, emphasizing that Mannion’s Snapchat account, registered under the alias ‘James,’ was linked to his mobile phone. The police investigation revealed that Mannion’s account had connected to the Wi-Fi at his girlfriend’s house, providing crucial evidence that led to his apprehension.

During the court hearing at Newcastle Crown Court, Miss Dowling described how Mannion’s conversation with the decoy quickly became highly sexualized, with the suspect asking for explicit images and videos. Despite being refused these requests, Mannion persisted in his attempts to obtain such material. The court was informed that Mannion had made contact with the decoy profile on the social media platform, Snapchat, and that his account was registered to his mobile device.

In his defense, Mannion’s legal representative, Mark Barlow, stated that his client had no prior criminal record and had not committed any offenses before or after this incident. Barlow described Mannion as a hardworking individual who had taken steps to address his behavior. The judge, Mr. Recorder Toby Hedworth KC, acknowledged that the offense appeared to be a ‘one-off’ incident. When examining Mannion’s phone, authorities found no additional concerning material.

Sentencing, Mr. Hedworth imposed a 12-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, coupled with requirements for rehabilitation. Mannion is also mandated to register as a sex offender and adhere to a sexual harm prevention order for the next ten years.

Additional details revealed that Mannion had recently separated from his girlfriend. During the court proceedings, it was disclosed that Mannion had told the decoy girl, who claimed to have Covid, that she was ‘hot’ and expressed his own arousal by stating, “I’m so horny.” The court was further informed that Mannion sent the girl a picture and a video of himself masturbating, despite knowing her age and the circumstances of their interaction.