Darran Faith

A 43-year-old man from Sunderland has been sentenced for attempting sexual communication with a child and making indecent images of children. The case, investigated by the Northumbria Police Cyber Paedophile Online Investigation Team (POLIT) and the North East Regional Organised Crime Unit (NEROCU), highlights the dangers of online predation and the effectiveness of undercover operations in protecting vulnerable individuals.

The investigation began in January 2021 when Darran Faith was interviewed after engaging in sexual communications with what he believed to be a child online. Unbeknownst to Faith, he was actually communicating with an undercover officer from NEROCU. As part of the probe, officers seized several devices from his home in Sunderland, including his laptop. Forensic examination revealed multiple indecent images of children stored on these devices.

Building a robust evidential case, the investigating officers charged Faith with attempting sexual communication with a child and making indecent images of children. Due to the compelling evidence, Faith pleaded guilty to all counts at South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court on 27 October 2022. He appeared for sentencing at Newcastle Crown Court on 30 November 2022, where he received a 12-month prison sentence, suspended for two years.

In addition to the suspended sentence, Faith was ordered to complete 35 days of rehabilitation, sign the sex offenders' register for 10 years, and comply with a 10-year sexual harm prevention order. Detective Constable Rob Smoult from the Northumbria Police Cyber Paedophile Online Investigation Team commented: “When sex offenders operate online and through social media they think they can hide their crimes but this case shows the lengths officers will go to protect victims and bring offenders before the courts. Thanks to a swift investigation by our officers a dangerous predator has been placed before the courts and sentenced.” The case was reported by Greatest Hits Radio North East on 1 December 2022.