UK Man Jailed Five Years for Attempted Child Sexual Assault

Michael Storey, a 56-year-old from Gateshead, was jailed for five years after admitting to arranging the rape of a nine-year-old girl, believing he was communicating with the girl's mother online, who was actually an undercover police officer. Over a two-week period in February, Storey expressed that young girls were a "serious turn on" and detailed his plans to sexually abuse the child, including requesting indecent images and suggesting multiple assaults during a weekend when the child would not be at school. He was arrested before the meeting could take place, and the judge noted he would have faced a 15-year sentence if his plan had been executed. Storey was also subjected to an indefinite sexual harm prevention order and must register as a sex offender for life. The case highlights ongoing law enforcement efforts to combat online child predators and protect vulnerable children from exploitation. Separately, a grooming gang in Gateshead is on trial for raping girls aged 13 to 16, with prosecutors emphasizing the role of cocaine addiction in making victims vulnerable, and defense lawyers challenging the credibility of the victims' testimonies due to trauma-related memory inconsistencies.