STUART MALLEN: LANCASHIRE PAEDOPHILE SENTENCED AFTER BLACKPOOL STING
Stuart Mallen, a convicted sex offender from Lancashire with a disturbing history of crimes involving children, was recently brought to justice after a series of alarming incidents that culminated in his arrest in Blackpool.The 45-year-old, residing on Salisbury Avenue in Knott End, was caught in a covert operation conducted by a vigilant paedophile hunter group, which set a trap for him in a Blackpool car park.
Mallen had been waiting in his vehicle, with a tube of lubricant placed on his lap, seemingly prepared for an encounter with what he believed was a 15-year-old boy.
This encounter was part of a sting operation designed to catch individuals attempting to engage in sexual activities with minors.
According to court proceedings at Preston Crown Court, Mallen was sitting in his car when he was detained by members of the vigilante group.
The authorities revealed that he had made contact online with a profile he believed belonged to a 15-year-old boy.
However, this profile was a fake, created by paedophile hunters aiming to catch offenders like Mallen.
The messages exchanged between Mallen and the fictitious boy were brief but quickly took a sexual turn, with Mallen sending a photograph of his private parts.
The conversation escalated rapidly, leading to plans to meet in Blackpool.
Judge Ian Unsworth sentenced Mallen to 20 months in prison, emphasizing the severity of his predatory behavior.
During the sentencing, the judge stated, “You are a predatory paedophile with a sexual attraction to young boys.
It is to your good fortune that it didn’t involve a real child.” Mallen pleaded guilty to attempting to engage in sexual communications with a minor and also admitted to possessing indecent images of children.
Police investigations uncovered a stash of 36 obscene photographs and videos depicting minors on his devices, further illustrating his disturbing pattern of behavior.
The court detailed that in February, Mallen had initiated online contact with what he believed was a 15-year-old boy.
This contact was part of a broader pattern of grooming and sexual exploitation.
The messages, although short-lived, quickly became sexual in nature.
Mallen then sent explicit photographs, and arrangements were made to meet in Blackpool.
When he arrived at the designated location, he was detained by the paedophile hunters.
Although a container of lubricant was found on his lap during the arrest, the court clarified that the prosecution chose not to charge him with any specific acts that may have occurred during the meeting, leaving that aspect unprosecuted but relevant for context.
It was also revealed that Mallen had a long history of sexual offenses involving children.
His previous convictions include a 2007 police caution for possession of indecent material involving a child and viewing such images online while working in primary schools.
The police investigation was initiated after concerns were raised about his conduct.
In 2008, he appeared before Wolverhampton Crown Court, facing multiple charges related to children, including eight counts of meeting or communicating with a minor under 16 for sexual grooming, four counts of sexual activity with a child, and two counts of engaging in a sex act in the presence of a minor.
During that case, he was found to have developed a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old boy he met online, traveling to Plymouth to meet him and spending a night with the minor in a hotel, during which sexual activity took place.
For these offenses, Mallen received a three-year community order and was subjected to a 10-year Sexual Offences Prevention Order, which prohibited him from being alone with children.
A pre-sentence report indicated that Mallen himself admitted to being attracted to teenage boys and that he acted on these impulses when opportunities arose.
The judge acknowledged his remorse but emphasized that his criminal record and ongoing predatory tendencies warranted a custodial sentence.
In sentencing, Judge Unsworth ordered that Mallen serve a total of 20 months concurrently for the various charges, including attempting to communicate sexually with a minor and possessing indecent images.
The judge explained that only immediate custody was appropriate given the seriousness of the case and Mallen’s history.
As he was led from the courtroom, Mallen was seen sobbing uncontrollably, overwhelmed by the gravity of his situation.
The court also ordered that all devices used by Mallen to access child pornography be destroyed, underscoring the ongoing efforts to prevent further offenses.
