STEVEN ALLAN AND HIS SHOCKING PLOT IN DURHAM
In a disturbing case that unfolded in County Durham, Steven Allan became the focus of law enforcement after attempting to engage in a criminal act involving a minor.The events began when Allan believed he was communicating with a 15-year-old girl via a popular dating application.
Unbeknownst to him, he was actually talking to a member of the vigilant group Guardians of the North, who specialize in catching and exposing online predators.
The operation was set up with a fake profile on the app Skout, where the group posed as an 18-year-old woman under the alias Chelsea.
Allan, who was pretending to be a 21-year-old man named Lee, engaged in an online chat with ‘Chelsea,’ during which he was informed that she was only 15 years old.
Despite her age, Allan's responses quickly turned sexual, and he expressed a desire to meet the girl in person the very next day.
Prosecutor Rachel Glover detailed the disturbing exchanges in court, stating, "He asked to meet her at the bus station in Sunderland the next day and meet at the fish shop today.
He also asked to meet at the green near B&M and she agreed to this.
He continued to send sexual messages." The chat clearly showed Allan’s intent to pursue a sexual encounter with someone he believed was a minor.
Further deception was employed when a second member of Guardians of the North, posing as a 27-year-old woman, communicated with Allan.
This member helped facilitate the plan to meet, which culminated in Allan’s arrest when he arrived at the predetermined meeting location.
During the arrest, authorities seized his mobile phone, uncovering the conversations he had with ‘Chelsea’ that confirmed his intentions.
During police interviews, Allan admitted to using his brother’s photograph and images taken from the internet depicting genitalia, acknowledging his awareness of the wrongdoing involved.
He confessed to having had no prior actual meetings with children, but claimed he had been speaking to numerous girls due to feelings of loneliness.
Allan expressed remorse for his actions and apologized.
The defendant, aged 40 and residing on Station Road in Wingate, County Durham, pleaded guilty to multiple charges.
These included attempted sexual communication with a child, attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity, and arranging or facilitating a child sexual offence, all occurring between July 25 and 27 in 2020.
Judge Edward Bindloss addressed the court, revealing his initial intention to sentence Allan to two years in prison.
However, the judge noted that such a sentence would likely lead to immediate release after about 11 and a half months on remand, with little opportunity for treatment or rehabilitation.
As a result, the judge imposed a three-year community order.
This includes participation in a sex offender treatment program aimed at rehabilitation, along with mandatory registration as a sex offender and a five-year sexual harm prevention order.
Representing Allan, Mark Styles highlighted that his client appears to function with a mild learning disability and expressed hope that he would successfully engage in rehabilitative efforts.
The case underscores the dangers of online predators and the importance of vigilant law enforcement working to prevent child exploitation.
