Paedo hunter’s shock after sting snares member of his own family
what we do. The whole family has been shocked. We had no idea whatsoever he was up to this. It came as a total surprise to us."
Newcastle Crown Court heard that the pervert had also sent sexual messages to a real 12-year-old girl before being snared by GotN.
Stokoe, who is the cousin of Joe's wife, also a member of GotN, chatted to the first girl online in April 2019, and despite later being arrested and released on bail, he went on to talk to the decoy profile set up by the paedophile hunters.
Annie Richardson, prosecuting, told Newcastle Crown Court Stokoe told the girl he was 19 and she said she was underage.
The conversation progressed to Stokoe asking whether he could be provided with sexual images from her, but said he wouldn't show anyone.
After being reported to the police, the now-20-year-old was arrested despite no statement or support provided to the prosecution by the victim, and was released on bail.
However, six months later in November last year, the defendant was caught by GotN via the online sites Kik and Scout, where he began communicating with a fake underage profile named 'Louise.'
"He told her he was 19 and she told him she was 14," Ms
Richardson said.
"He said he was looking for fun – which he said he meant sex.”
The conversation moved to Kik and he asked to see a photo of her breasts and he took an intimate photo of himself.
He also arranged to meet the girl, but later cancelled the plans stating he just wanted to be friends.
Ms Richardson then told the court that Stokoe was a relative of Mr Jones at GotN, and because of this the group knew his address and they were able to notify the police.
Despite there being no answer when officers arrived, he was found and arrested a short time later.
CCTV footage from near his home showed Stokoe deleting content and data from his phone once police had been informed and were looking for him.
Stokoe, formally of Telford Road in Sunderland, pleaded guilty to engaging in sexual communication with a child, attempting to meet a girl under 16, and attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child.
Tony Cornberg, mitigating, told the court that a psychiatric report carried out revealedStokoesufferedfrom "severe anxiety" and "severe depression".
Judge Stephen Earl sentenced him to a three-yearcommunity order on top of 50 days’ rehabilitation requirements and completion of the Horizon programme. Stokoe was also made subject to a sexual harm prevention order for five years.