In 2026, the Offender Database recorded that Neil Mclean, then 44, was returned to prison just five days after being released from his latest custodial term. On Wednesday, 11 February 2026, Mclean, formerly of Teesside but now residing at Cuthbert House, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, appeared at Newcastle Magistrates’ Court. He was sentenced to a further 24 weeks in custody after admitting he had breached his Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) by hiding a smartphone from monitoring officers.
The investigation established that Mclean, a former Asda worker, was released from prison on 5 February 2026. When officers visited his bail hostel in Gateshead on 10 February, he acted suspiciously and attempted to deceive them by only surrendering a basic Nokia “brick” phone. However, a search of his room uncovered a large black smartphone hidden in a drawer and plugged into a power bank. This discovery marked Mclean’s sixth conviction for breaching court orders designed to restrict his digital access.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
The court reported that Mclean has a prolific history of predatory behaviour, with 23 offences on his record, including 11 sex offences. Newcastle Magistrates’ Court heard that his original downfall occurred in 2016 in Teesside, when he messaged who he thought was a 12-year-old girl on Facebook, asking her to be his “sex slave.” The girl’s grandmother had intervened, masquerading as the child to entrap him. In 2018, he was again snared by a paedophile hunting team after attempting to arrange a meeting in Darlington, County Durham, with a person he believed was a 14-year-old girl.
The judge noted that Mclean has consistently demonstrated a refusal to comply with the law, having been jailed in 2023 for accessing dating sites and extreme chat rooms. For his latest actions in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, the court determined that an immediate return to custody was the only way to address his “entrenched” pattern of deceptive behaviour. The prosecution, led by Clare Haswell, highlighted that the defendant’s attempt to hide a smartphone so soon after release proved he remains a significant danger to children.
Sentence and Statutory Requirements
For his crimes in England, Neil Mclean was handed:
- Custodial Sentence: 24 weeks in prison.
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements remain active for life.
- SHPO: His indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order remains in effect with strict conditions.
- Judicial Oversight: Sentenced at Newcastle Magistrates’ Court following a guilty plea to breaching his SHPO.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Mclean is managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) by Northumbria Police, the Cleveland Police (due to his Teesside history), and the Probation Service. Due to his status as a serial offender and his history of grooming children in Darlington and Teesside, his management is subject to the highest level of oversight by the Public Protection Unit.
As a member of the Sex Offenders Register, Mclean must comply with notification requirements regarding his residence at Cuthbert House, Gateshead, for the rest of his life. Authorities state that his repeated attempts to bypass digital monitoring using hidden devices and encrypted platforms necessitate constant, unannounced searches of his living quarters. Any further breach of his registration conditions or his indefinite SHPO will result in immediate arrest and a significant return to the Crown Court.
If you or anyone you know has been affected by the individuals highlighted on this website, please report them to the Police on 101 (999 in an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details on reporting a crime. You can also report to Crimestoppers if you wish to remain completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.