A New Addington father who was caught trying to meet a 14-year-old girl for sex by a group of vigilante “paedophile hunters” has avoided jail.
Daniel Mullarkey, 31, was captured on film arriving to meet who he thought was an underage girl near Arena tram stop by the self-styled “Internet Interceptors” in January.
The dad-of-two had exchanged two weeks of explicit online messages with 14-year-old “Hayley”, describing the sex acts he wanted to perform on her – not realizing he was speaking to a male member of the vigilante group.
Following his arrest on January 20, Mullarkey, of Betchworth Way, pleaded guilty to grooming an underage girl for sex.
But today he walked free from Croydon Crown Court with a 16-month suspended jail sentence, after his lawyer assured the judge his client would “never go near the internet again”.
Speaking outside the courthouse after proceedings today, the vigilante who sent Mullarkey the fake messages blasted the sentencing as “not good enough”.
Earlier prosecutor Tom Nicholson had told the court how Mullarkey used the online dating site Waplog to groom “Hayley”, offering to buy her a secret phone and admitting he would be arrested if they were caught engaging in sexual activity.
The father-of-two stayed silent as he left the courthouse
The sick predator’s messages continued even when she pleaded to “stop asking me” about sex, Mr Nicholson said.
On the night of his arrest, after being confronted by members of the vigilante group, Mullarkey had fled to an address in Coleridge Road, Addiscombe, where he called the police to report being hassled by men accusing him of child sex offences.
But when officers arrived they were met by members of Internet Interceptors, who handed over evidence of Mullarkey’s crimes.
Mullarkey being confronted by members of Internet Interceptors
According to Mr Nicholson, when Mullarkey was first questioned by police about the accusations, he “said words to the effect of ‘No I didn't, I've got a wife and kids’.”
James Hasslacher, mitigating, suggested the revelations about his client’s perverted intentions and more than two months in custody had caused the irreparable breakdown of his family life.
He said: “He of course has to pick up the bones of his family, and that of course is a punishment in its own right.
"The effect on his wife is quite understandable in the circumstances.
“Mr Mullarkey is extremely ashamed. He can't understand how he got himself down this slippery slope.
"He can't say it was a moment of madness, because it went on for weeks.”
Mr Hasslacher argued a suspended sentence for Mullarkey would act as a “sword of Damocles hanging over him”, adding: "He's not going to go near the Internet ever again.”
Messages sent between Mullarkey, right, and the fictitious 14-year-old girl
According to chat logs released by Internet Interceptors following today’s sentencing, Mullarkey was a crane driver who worked near Cannon Street in central London.
Sentencing him today, the Recorder of Croydon Judge Warwick McKinnon said: "You went to meet this 14-year-old for the purpose of sexual activity, and indeed penetrative sexual activity.
"It's all the more extraordinary that you are married with two children of your own, and one of the results of this outrageous and disgusting activity, though perhaps unsurprising, [is that] there has been a breakdown in your marriage.”
The judge added: "You weren’t to know there wasn’t actually a 14-year-old girl to meet because this whole thing was set-up by a group of individuals setting out to flush out individuals with your mindset.
“In that case, this flushing out has been entirely successful.”
Stood in the dock wearing a dark striped shirt, Mullarkey appeared to keep his eyes closed as his sentence was read out.
Alongside the jail term, suspended for two years, he was placed on the sex offenders register for ten years and ordered to carry out 200 hours unpaid work, as well as pay a £100 victim surcharge.
He was also slapped with a five-year ban from using any device that can access the internet unless he follows strict rules regarding his browsing history.
Mullarkey, hooded, leaving Croydon Crown Court today
Andy Bradstock, the vigilante who sent the messages pretending to be the teenage girl, was among those sat in the public gallery at Croydon Crown Court.
Commenting on the sentencing outside court, Mr Bradstock said: “It’s not good enough really, is it. He should have done at least six months.
“It could have been a real child. Some of the things he said were absolutely disgusting.”
“He had full intentions. He was there”.
A member of the vigilante group apparently donned a burqa as a disguise while she filmed Mullarkey, his face hidden by a tightly drawn hood, as he left court after being sentenced.
When asked if she was the same woman who had sat uncovered with Mr Bradstock inside the courtroom, she declined to comment.
Got a story? Call the newsdesk on 020 8722 6388 or email daniel.omahony@newsquest.co.uk
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