Sunderland paedophile planned to meet 14-year-old ‘boy’ for sex

James Graham, 24, planned to meet a 14-year-old boy who he believed he had been chatting with online.

But, what the defendant did not know, was that he had actually been speaking with a decoy police officer from the North East Regional Organised Crime Unit (NEROCU), posing as the boy, as part of a wider investigation.

Newcastle Crown Court heard that Graham sent countless sexually explicit messages stating his intentions with the teenage schoolboy and even offered to supply him with drugs.

James Graham thought he was arranging to meet a 14-year-old boy for sex (Image: Northumbria Police)

When communication began, in October 2024, NEROCU officers quickly launched a specialist operation to target Graham and bring him into custody.

It led to his arrest on January 15 last year, and he was subsequently charged with arranging/facilitating the commission of child sex offence and attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child.

It was classed as “an attempt” as there was no actual child.

Graham, of Hovingham Gardens, Barnes, Sunderland, later pleaded guilty to all charges and yesterday (Thursday, March 5) appeared back at the court where he was sentenced by Recorder Paul Reid to a ten-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months.

James Graham given suspended prison sentence with ten-years’ registration as a sex offender (Image: Northumbria Police)

But he was also made subject of registration as a sex offender and restrictions imposed under a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, both for ten years.

NEROCU Detective Constable Lee Robertson, said: “Cases like this show why our work in this area is so vital and we will continue to do all we can to help protect children from predators like Graham.

“I’d like to thank all the officers and staff involved for helping to bring Graham before the courts and as always, I’d encourage anyone who has been a victim, or who wants to talk to an officer and raise some concerns, to get in touch immediately.”

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Anyone with concerns about child abuse or wanting to report a crime, can contact their local police force via its website or by calling 101.

The advice is to always dial 999 in an emergency.

Alternatively, callers can do so anonymously, by contacting the independent charity Crimestoppers, on (0800) 555 111.