Sean Yearnshire, a 26-year-old man from Byker, Newcastle upon Tyne, was sentenced at Durham Crown Court for a series of sexual offences committed in August 2024, shortly after completing his licence period from a prior conviction.
The court heard that Yearnshire had been imprisoned in January 2023 for 27 months after being found guilty of sexual communication with a child and attempting to meet a child following online grooming. As part of his sentence, he was subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) that restricted his internet use and prohibited contact with children. He completed a probation-led Horizon course to address his sexual offending behaviour and was released on licence, which expired on 19 April 2024.
Just three months later, in July 2024, Yearnshire responded to a message sent to his TikTok account by an undercover police officer posing as a 13-year-old girl. Unbeknownst to him, the interaction was part of a police operation. Yearnshire immediately lied about his age, claiming to be 16. Between 14 and 21 August 2024, he sent multiple sexualised messages to the 'girl', including images of his genitals and a picture of himself performing a sex act. He also attempted to solicit intimate images from her, receiving one non-explicit photo without a face and then demanding more, including a video of her performing a sex act on herself. The conversation concluded on 21 August with Yearnshire declaring his love for the 'girl'.
- Offences committed at an address in Consett, County Durham.
- Yearnshire arrested at his workplace on 26 August 2024.
- Mobile phones seized from his work and home on Spires Lane, Byker, Newcastle upon Tyne.
During police interview, Yearnshire confirmed ownership of the devices but largely provided no comment responses. He appeared before Newton Aycliffe magistrates on 27 August 2024, where he admitted to attempting to cause a child to watch sexual activity, attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, and breaching his SHPO. The case was committed to Durham Crown Court for sentencing.
Prosecutor Elisha Marsay outlined the explicit nature of the communications, emphasising the defendant's history of similar offences. Defence barrister Glenn Gatland noted that Yearnshire did not initiate the contact but responded due to loneliness while living in supported accommodation. Gatland stated, 'He wasn’t looking to make contact with anyone at the time and when contact was made, he felt lonely... he feels like he has let himself down badly and is sorry for what he did.' Gatland added that Yearnshire was attempting to better himself through training to start his own business.
Judge Nathan Adams remarked on the seriousness of the offences, given their timing shortly after Yearnshire's release and in violation of the SHPO. He said, 'To act in that way so shortly after release from a sentence for similar activity, and in the face of an order made to prevent you engaging in that type of behaviour is a serious offence.' On an unspecified date in late 2024, Judge Adams imposed a 20-month custodial sentence. Yearnshire remains subject to the existing SHPO for another seven-and-a-half years and was placed on a new ten-year sex offender notification period upon release.
The case was reported by The Northern Echo, with details from Durham Constabulary. Yearnshire has four previous convictions for ten offences, highlighting a pattern of sexual offending behaviour.