A man from Ellesmere Port has been ordered to register as a sex offender for five years and given a community sentence after admitting he tried to obtain sexual images from online accounts he believed were run by children.
Court hears details of online contact with decoy accounts
Steven Beaumont, 46, of Stokesay Court, pleaded guilty at Chester Magistrates' Court to two charges of an adult attempting to engage a child in sexual communication. The offences took place between 12 August and 23 October 2025, the court was told.
Prosecutors said Beaumont exchanged messages with two separate accounts that were operating as decoys and clearly stated they were under 16. The accounts were reported to be run by members of a group described in court as "Dank Dragons", who say they act to expose suspected paedophiles online.
"I know why you’re here – it’s the online stuff," Beaumont reportedly told officers when they attended to arrest him.
Sentence and probation assessment
District Judge John McGarva imposed a two-year community order and directed that Beaumont must sign the sex offenders register for five years. The court heard details from a pre-sentence report indicating difficulties in accepting that he had developed a sexual interest in children, and noted problems with alcohol and cannabis use which defence counsel said contributed to his behaviour.
- Defendant: Steven Beaumont, 46, of Stokesay Court, Ellesmere Port
- Offences: Two counts of attempting to engage a child in sexual communication (adult attempting to engage a child)
- Sentence: Two-year community order; five-year notification on the sex offenders register
- Case dates: Contact between 12 Aug and 23 Oct 2025; court appearance 23 June (first plea) and sentencing at a subsequent hearing
Impact and safeguarding
The case highlights the role of civilian online 'decoy' groups in identifying alleged offenders and the challenges courts face assessing risk and rehabilitation. The community order will include supervision requirements intended to manage risk, while the notification requirement means authorities will be informed of Beaumont's whereabouts for five years.
| Measure | Detail |
|---|---|
| Community order | Two years |
| Sex offenders register | Five years |
The court record also noted that Beaumont offered an early guilty plea and was reported to have been candid in interview, but remained reluctant in probation assessments to acknowledge a sexual interest in children. Defence counsel said a relationship breakdown and substance misuse contributed to the offending conduct.
Cases of this nature are treated seriously by police and the courts because of the potential harm to children and the need to protect the public. Anyone with concerns about online sexual activity involving children should contact Cheshire Police or the NSPCC for advice.
