South Shields Paedophile Sentenced for Attempting to Engage in Sexual Communication with Child

A South Shields man who believed he was sending sexual chats to a young girl was actually messaging an undercover police officer.

Christopher Bullock, 39, thought he was speaking to a 13-year-old girl on the Kik messenger app and sent over pictures of his penis and initiated a perverted game. However, he was actually communicating with an undercover police officer who had created a fake profile to catch online predators.

Upon Bullock's arrest, his home was searched, and officers discovered indecent images of children in his possession.

Bullock appeared at Newcastle Crown Court on Wednesday to be sentenced for three counts of making indecent images and a charge of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child. He had previously pleaded guilty to the charges.

The court heard that Bullock had contacted the fake profile, pretending to be a 13-year-old girl, on multiple occasions between June and September 2019. He sent sexually suggestive messages, asking to play a game of "question and answer" and requesting to see the girl's breasts. Bullock also sent a picture of himself and his penis.

The indecent images found on Bullock's devices dated back to 2017 and included images classified as Category A, the most severe category.

Bullock's lawyer, Gavin Doig, argued that his client had no prior convictions and had pleaded guilty at an early stage. He also highlighted that the incident involved a single conversation.

Recorder Ian Mullarkey sentenced Bullock to a 10-month prison sentence, suspended for two years. He also ordered Bullock to complete 55 rehabilitation activity days and a sex offender programme.

Bullock was made subject to a seven-year sexual harm prevention order and will be on the sex offender's register for 10 years.