THOMAS WILLIAM MEEK SENTENCED IN BELFAST FOR PAEDOPHILE OFFENCES AND VIGILANTE STING

Thomas William Meek, a 42-year-old resident of Nansen Street in West Belfast, has been handed a prison sentence of seven months following his arrest and subsequent conviction related to a series of disturbing offences involving a teenage girl. The case unfolded after Meek was caught attempting to meet what he believed was a 14-year-old girl, who was actually an undercover member of a vigilante group actively exposing predators in Belfast.

These criminal acts took place over a span of more than two years, from February 2020 to July 2022. During the court proceedings at Belfast Crown Court, it was revealed that police officers responded to reports concerning Meek at Alexander Park in North Belfast on July 23, 2022. The reports indicated that a vigilante group, dedicated to exposing individuals involved in child exploitation, had confronted Meek at that location. The prosecution, led by Mr. Mark O'Hara, detailed how the investigation began when a woman associated with the vigilante group created a fake online dating profile, pretending to be a young girl. This profile was active from June 30, 2022, and Meek engaged in daily conversations with it, unaware that he was communicating with members of the vigilante group.

Throughout these conversations, Meek repeatedly expressed a desire to meet the girl, despite being informed that she was only 14 years old. The chats quickly turned explicit, with Meek discussing pornographic material, requesting explicit photographs, and engaging in sexual conversations involving both boys and girls. He also discussed alcohol and drugs, and suggested that the girl search the internet for sexual content. At one point, he promised to send gifts if she provided explicit pictures. The culmination of these interactions was the planned meeting at Alexander Park, where he was confronted by the vigilante group members.

Further investigation revealed that police had examined Meek's mobile phone, uncovering an indecent image and video classified as Category B. During police interviews, Meek admitted that the messages and images were indeed his but claimed that he did not derive sexual gratification from viewing them. He expressed remorse for his actions, stating that his behaviour had severely impacted his life and that he deeply regretted what he had done.

In his defence, it was highlighted that Meek was 39 years old at the time of the offences and was a father to five children, some of whom are minors. It was also noted that he was struggling with alcohol abuse during the period of offending but had since stopped drinking and was actively engaging with Alcoholics Anonymous. A pre-sentence report described him as someone who did not pose a future danger to the public, acknowledging his remorse and lack of full understanding of the severity of his actions.

Judge McGarrity emphasized the gravity of the case, pointing out the significant age difference between Meek and the girl, as well as the persistent and sexually explicit nature of their communications. The judge sentenced Meek to seven months in prison, followed by a further seven months on supervised license. Additionally, Meek was placed on the sex offenders register for ten years and was subject to a Sexual Offences Prevention Order for a minimum of five years, underscoring the serious consequences of his conduct in Belfast.