Taxi driver spared jail over sex chat with ‘schoolboy’

A Newcastle taxi driver who sent explicit images and discussed sexual favours in exchange for a ride with someone he believed was a 14-year-old schoolboy has been given a suspended prison sentence.

David Richardson, 31, of Wood Grove in Denton Burn, thought he was messaging a teenage boy on Snapchat. In reality, the account had been set up by an undercover officer from the North East Regional Organised Crime Unit (NEROCU) as part of an investigation into online child sexual exploitation.

The contact began in May. Richardson was told the person was a 14-year-old schoolboy. He sent an image of himself in underwear and asked whether anyone else could see the phone. He then sent further indecent images and videos. When asked what he was thinking about, he replied that he was thinking about picking the teenager up from school. There were clear references to sexual activity.

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Prosecutor John Crawford told Newcastle Crown Court that the pair discussed the officer paying for a taxi ride with Richardson in exchange for sexual favours. Richardson also asked the “boy” to send him images. He was identified in part because details of his room and his trainers were visible in the pictures he sent.

Richardson was arrested at his home on 17 July. He later pleaded guilty to attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and attempting to cause a child to look at an image of sexual activity.

At sentencing on Wednesday, Recorder Jonathan Sandiford KC imposed a 12-month prison sentence, suspended for two years.

Richardson must also comply with sex offender notification requirements and a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for ten years. The judge noted that probation reports concluded Richardson has a “sexually deviant interest in children.”

In mitigation, Richard Herrmann said Richardson had been depressed at the time of the offences. He has since lost his job as a taxi driver and plans to work in e-commerce, with no future contact with children.

Detective Constable Lee Robertson of NEROCU said after the hearing: “This is just the latest investigation which has seen a dangerous predator have their day in court. Our work will not stop, and we will continue to work to tackle online child abuse and sexual exploitation. We would urge anyone who has been a victim of this type of offending, or has concerns about someone’s behaviour, to come forward and talk to police.”

Anyone with concerns about child sexual abuse can contact their local police force online or by calling 101. In an emergency, dial 999.