In 2019, the Offender Database recorded that Edward Armstrong, then 59, was sentenced for attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child. On appearing at Newcastle Crown Court, the defendant—of Portsmouth Square, Pennywell, Sunderland—was sentenced after falling into an online sting operation orchestrated by the activist group Dark Justice. It was reported that Armstrong believed he was grooming a 13-year-old girl named “Amy” on the messaging apps Qeep and Kik, but he was actually communicating with undercover adults.
The investigation established that Armstrong’s actions were both “serious and significant.” Northumbria Police reported that despite being told the girl was underage, Armstrong stated he “wanted to see her naked body” and requested indecent images. The prosecution reported that during the chat, Armstrong sent a photograph of himself in his Asda work uniform. The investigation established that this photo allowed Dark Justice to track him to the Washington branch where he worked, follow him home, and provide his address to the police.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
The court reported that Armstrong attempted to justify his behaviour by claiming there would be “no sex until 16,” even while soliciting nude photographs. Newcastle Crown Court heard that the defendant had waited two years for the case to be concluded, a factor the judge considered alongside his guilty plea. The investigation established that although Armstrong wore an Asda uniform, he was actually employed by a third-party cleaning contractor providing services to the supermarket.
Recorder Tom Little QC noted that Armstrong came “close to” a custodial sentence. For his actions in Tyne and Wear, Armstrong was handed a two-year community order with rehabilitation requirements. The judge noted that the use of a work uniform in the grooming process was a critical error by the defendant that directly led to his identification and arrest by Northumbria Police.
Status and Statutory Requirements
For the crimes reported in England, the status of Edward Armstrong is as follows:
- Sentence: 2-year Community Order (Sentenced 2019).
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements were activated following conviction.
- SHPO Status: Subject to a 5-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
- Judicial Oversight: Sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court following a Northumbria Police investigation.
- Criminal Record: Attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child.
- Origin: Portsmouth Square, Pennywell, Sunderland, Tyne and Wear.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Armstrong was managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) within the Tyne and Wear area. Due to the nature of his conduct in Sunderland and Washington, which involved seeking sexual gratification from a person he believed was a 13-year-old, his management was a priority for the Public Protection Unit. Authorities state that his 5-year SHPO was designed to strictly monitor his internet access and prevent him from using messaging apps to target further victims.
As a registered sex offender, Armstrong’s details were logged on the national police database. Authorities state that his history of sending “identifiable workplace photos” while grooming children in Sunderland requires vigilance by offender management teams. Any failure to comply with his rehabilitation requirements or any attempt to delete internet history would result in an immediate breach of his order and a return to court for a custodial sentence to ensure the safety of children.
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