Bernard Daley

A 50-year-old man from Hartlepool, Bernard Daley, was sentenced at Teesside Crown Court for attempting to engage in sexual communications with individuals he believed to be children. The case came to light after members of the Child Online Safety Team, a group of online paedophile hunters, set up decoys posing as 14-year-old girls to expose potential offenders.

The offences occurred over a two-week period in April 2024. Prosecutor Nigel Soppitt detailed how Daley initiated conversations on the internet with what he thought were two 14-year-olds. In the first instance, Daley was explicitly informed that the recipient was 14 years old, yet he proceeded to call her 'sexy' and sent pictures of himself in various states of undress. He expressed a desire for her to reciprocate and later requested a picture of her in her school uniform.

• Two days after the initial chat, Daley began a conversation with a second decoy, also claiming to be 14.
• The discussion quickly turned sexual, with Daley asking for pictures of her in her underwear.
• He sent a photo of himself completely naked during this exchange.

Daley was arrested at his home following the encounters. He later pleaded guilty to two counts of attempting to engage in sexual communications with a child. In court, defence barrister Kelly Clark argued that no real children were involved and highlighted Daley's remorse, noting that he had reflected on the potential impact on a child and was 'most sorry' about his actions. Clark also mentioned that Daley, who has special needs, had volunteered for a course to prevent such behaviour in the future.

Judge Graham Robinson, passing an eight-month prison sentence suspended for an unspecified period, remarked: 'Right-minded people just don’t think this is an acceptable way to behave.' The judge acknowledged the absence of actual harm to children but emphasised the gravity of the conduct. The case was reported by the Hartlepool Mail on 21st November 2025, underscoring the role of vigilante groups in identifying online predators in the UK.