Ronald Alexander Hoy

A 52-year-old man from Belfast, Ronald Alexander Hoy, has escaped a prison sentence after pleading guilty to attempting to sexually communicate with a child. The case, heard at Belfast Magistrates’ Court, stemmed from a sting operation conducted by a paedophile hunter group based in Sunderland. Hoy, who believed he was chatting with a 14-year-old girl named ‘Scarlett’, engaged in explicit online conversations and exchanged inappropriate images between 13 and 18 September 2021.

Prosecutors detailed that Hoy initiated sexual discussions with the decoy profile and sent explicit photographs of himself, while also requesting indecent images from the supposed schoolgirl. The operation was exposed when the Sunderland-based group alerted Parents Against Predators, a Northern Ireland organisation, leading to Hoy's arrest by police. This incident highlights the growing role of vigilante groups in identifying potential child sex offenders online, though such actions often raise questions about legal boundaries and evidence handling.

At the sentencing hearing on 3 October 2023, District Judge Steven Keown acknowledged the seriousness of the offence, stating it warranted immediate custody. However, he opted against imprisonment, reasoning that a prison term would not effectively manage the ongoing risk posed by Hoy upon release. Instead, the judge imposed a three-year probation order, a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) lasting five years, and required Hoy to register as a sex offender for the same period. Judge Keown warned Hoy sternly: “If there is a breach or further offending, he will go to jail for as long as I can stand over.”

Defence barrister Mark Farrell argued for leniency, noting the low harm caused since no actual child was involved, only a decoy. He highlighted aggravating factors but emphasised Hoy's relocation to an undisclosed address due to community backlash following the case's publicity. Previously residing on Greenville Road in east Belfast, Hoy's actions were described by the Crown as involving “inappropriate” content that crossed clear legal lines under child protection laws. This case underscores the judiciary's balancing act between punishment and rehabilitation in non-contact sexual offences.

The sentencing reflects broader trends in Northern Ireland courts dealing with online grooming attempts, where probation and preventive orders are increasingly used to monitor and rehabilitate offenders without immediate incarceration. Sources: Belfast Newsletter court report by Alan Erwin, published 3 October 2023.