Locations
Grattan Road, Bradford, BD1
Description
Dangerous Paedophile Malcolm Bellwood Jailed Again for Targeting Online Decoys
Malcolm Bellwood, 71, has been sentenced to seven years in prison with a further seven-year extended licence after engaging in sexual conversations with two online decoys posing as 13-year-old girls.
The offences came to light in February 2026 when members of the paedophile hunter group Justice Reborn confronted him and handed a pack of evidence to police. Bellwood, formerly of Grattan Road, Bradford, and now of no fixed abode, appeared via video link at Bradford Crown Court.
In January he contacted a decoy profile set up by the group. The WhatsApp conversation became sexual; he told the “girl” and her friend to remove their pyjamas, encouraged them to “play” with each other and gave instructions about sexual acts. He later contacted a second decoy, discussed sexual matters and asked for indecent pictures.
Bellwood pleaded guilty to attempting to cause or incite a child to engage in sexual activity, attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, and breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
In 2019 he was jailed for four-and-a-half years with a six-year extended licence for similar offences and was described as “a danger to children.”
Prosecuting, Victoria Barker outlined the facts of the latest contacts. In mitigation, barrister Laura McBride said Bellwood had lived an isolated, solitary life since his previous release, made no attempt to hide his identity online and had expressed remorse.
Judge Kirstie Watson said the offending was aggravated by his previous convictions, with early guilty pleas the only significant mitigation. She told him:
“You have demonstrated time and time again that you have a paedophilic urge you are unwilling or unable to control.” The judge described an “embedded pattern” of offending and said he posed a significant risk of serious harm to female children.
Bellwood must serve two-thirds of the custodial term before the Parole Board can consider release. He remains subject to an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order and must register as a sex offender for life.