TONY SMALL AND SHOCKING PAEDOPHILE ACTIVITIES IN DURHAM
Tony Martin Jon Small, aged 40, has been sentenced to three years in prison following his conviction for engaging in sexually explicit communications with what he believed was an 11-year-old girl.The incident took place in Durham, where Small was already subject to a sexual harm prevention order due to prior sexual offences committed in Portsmouth in 2018.
Small appeared before Durham Crown Court on Wednesday to face charges that included attempting to incite a female minor to engage in sexual activity, along with breaching the existing sexual harm prevention order.
The offences in question occurred between March 24 and March 27.
Small admitted guilt to both charges during a prior hearing, which helped shape the ongoing proceedings.
The prosecution, led by Robin Patton, detailed that Small had initiated communication with what he believed was an 11-year-old girl via the social media platform Wink.
However, it was revealed that the girl was in fact a decoy set up by a vigilant adult group known as Fighting for Innocents, which actively targets and catches individuals attempting to engage in illicit activities with minors.
According to Mr.
Patton, Small’s messages were highly sexualized and included grooming language, with him inquiring about the girl’s clothing and appearance.
Small went further by publicly expressing that the girl looked very attractive and proceeded to send images of himself without a shirt.
He also promised to teach the girl about sex and described sexual acts he purportedly wanted to perform.
As part of his unacceptable conduct, Small transmitted an explicit photograph of himself along with a video, all orchestrated during a three-day period from March 24 to March 27.
The law enforcement authorities caught Small on March 28 after he traveled to Peterlee, fully under the impression that he was meeting an adult woman willing to engage in sexual activities.
Instead, police arrested him at the meeting location, leading to his immediate detention.
Defense counsel Kate Barnes highlighted that Small had promptly pleaded guilty at an early stage of the proceedings and emphasized that no actual sexual activity occurred, as the supposed child was a decoy.
She added that Small is a frequent user of social media, primarily to communicate with friends, and initially had no intentions of engaging with minors.
Ms.
Barnes also noted that during his time in custody, Small has commenced a construction training course, indicating some steps toward rehabilitation.
Judge James Adkin, the Recorder of Durham, presided over the sentencing and stated that Small had been engaged in sexual chats with the decoy over a span of three days.
In light of his actions, the judge sentenced Small to three years imprisonment.
Additionally, he was ordered to register as a sex offender for life, and his existing sexual harm prevention order remains in effect to ensure ongoing restrictions and monitoring.
