Description
A “devious and manipulative” paedophile who told a 12-year-old girl with learning difficulties to advertise herself online for sex — complete with a recommended price list — has been jailed for nine years.
Stephen McLean, 25, from Sunderland, met the vulnerable North Tyneside girl online and messaged her for nearly a year. He demanded indecent images of her performing sex acts, suggested she abuse other children, and instructed her to offer “sexual services for payment” to other paedophiles, with the money paid into his bank account.
He even supplied a price list ranging from pictures of “whatever they want” to “no limit” encounters where they could “do whatever”, Newcastle Crown Court heard. McLean arranged several meetings with her for sex, but she cancelled each time.
He was also caught by a police decoy posing as a 13-year-old girl on the Chatib chatroom, where he quickly began asking for sexual images and sent her naked pictures of himself. His username meant “horny for younger girls”.
McLean admitted more than 20 offences, including sexual exploitation of a child and encouraging a child to engage in sexual activity. Police found he had sent images and videos to other abusers and possessed about 500 indecent images and videos of children aged three to 16, including 224 in the most serious category. He also breached an interim sexual risk order by failing to disclose his devices, usernames and bank accounts.
Judge Robert Spragg told the court that what McLean put the “very vulnerable little girl through” was “horrific”. He described it as “heartbreaking” to hear her mother’s victim impact statement.
The girl’s mother said her daughter was a “lovely, beautiful young girl” but “easily led”. She said McLean was “devious and manipulative” and had targeted her daughter online “where [she] could not possibly have protected her”.
The judge called McLean a predator who exploited girls for his “own personal gain” with “total disregard for their well-being”.
McLean will serve an extra five years on extended licence after his release.