Middlesbrough pervert caught by paedophile hunters

Dwight Manson’s deviant behaviour caught the attention of paedophile hunters when he struck up a conversation with what he thought was a teenage girl.

The 30-year-old soon turned to the online chat to a highly sexual nature and was actively encouraging the decoy to behave in a sexualised manner despite being warned about her age.

Teesside Crown Court heard how Manson was caught in a ‘sting’ operation when he arranged to meet the young girl in Middlesbrough but was instead confronted by members of the online team.

Cainan Lonsdale, prosecuting, said Manson used the RandoChat online app to contact the decoy despite being subject to a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) barring him from using programmes that don’t store digital history.

The court heard how Manson used the name John while he was chatting to the young girl and told her that he was 25-years-old before encouraging her to engage in sexual activity.

Mr Lonsdale said the defendant sent the decoy a picture of his penis before trying to persuade her to travel to meet while wearing no underwear.

He said Manson had previously been jailed for breaching the terms of his SHPO when he was locked up for 26-weeks in November 2022.

Dwight Manson (Image: Cleveland Police)

Manson, of Wicklow Street, Middlesbrough, pleaded guilty to attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity and breaches of his SHPO and notification requirement order in November last year.

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Paul Newcombe, mitigating, said: “He is seeking help and realises that he is at fault with his behaviour and he needs to sort out that fault.”

Judge Howard Crowson branded the defendant a ‘danger to children’ as he passed a seven-year and four month extended sentence following Manson’s guilty pleas.

He said: “Using a false name and age, you messaged a person who you believed was a 13-year-old girl. You encouraged her to act in a sexual manner to satisfy your own sexual gratification.

“Your pre-sentence report identifies you as a risk to children and I agree with that assessment.”