A 59-year-old man from Coxhoe, near Durham, has been handed a suspended sentence after attempting to engage in sexual communication with what he believed were underage girls online. Mark Robert Garside exchanged inappropriate messages with decoys posing as 14-year-olds 'Sasha' and 'Shelley' over two or three days in June 2020 via the Kick app, unaware they were operated by a paedophile hunting group.
Prosecutor Jonathan Gittins told Durham Crown Court that Garside sent lewd comments, expressing a desire to go to bed with the 'girls'. When they clarified their age and inexperience, he responded inappropriately, asking if they were 'getting ready to start?'. Following further messaging, the vigilante group confronted Garside, who immediately admitted his guilt and stated he needed help to change his ways. Police were alerted, and upon examination of his phones, officers found an indecent image of a child and three images classified as extreme pornography.
Garside, of Cow Close, Coxhoe, pleaded guilty to two counts of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, one count of possessing an indecent image of a child, and one count of possessing extreme pornography. Defence barrister Liam O’Brien highlighted the lengthy delay in proceedings, for which Garside was not responsible, and noted his genuine remorse. O’Brien explained that footage of the confrontation posted online led to Garside being ostracised in his community, forcing him to relocate and isolating him further, which exacerbated his descent into darker online spaces.
Judge Richard Clews acknowledged that such offences typically warrant immediate custody but considered mitigating factors including the single image sent, no solicitation of images in return, no attempt to meet, prompt admissions, substantial delay, and rehabilitation prospects. 'My view is that while this offending does cross the custody threshold, it’s not necessary for any prison sentence to be served now, taking into account the delay and your guilty pleas to the most serious offences,' the judge stated. He added that Garside could not complain if custody had been imposed, but noted low reoffending risk and potential for Probation Service intervention.
The court imposed a nine-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, requiring 26 days on an accredited sex offender programme and 100 hours of unpaid work. Garside was also subjected to a three-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order and must register as a sex offender for ten years. The judge warned that any breach or reoffending would activate the custodial term. This case, reported by The Northern Echo's crime and court reporter Bruce Unwin, underscores the role of vigilante groups in exposing online predators, though proceedings were handled by Durham Constabulary.