Childhood cancer survivor accused of attempting to groom 15-year-old for sex: reports
A childhood cancer survivor has been confronted on camera by vigilante pedophile hunters who accused him of reportedly attempting to groom a 15-year-old virgin for sex.
Corey Deans, 22, who battled a brain tumour from the age of seven, was accused of trying to meet up with teenager "Katie" for underage sex, The Sun reports.
The conversations reportedly occurred on adult chat site Badoo.
Deans became ill in 2001 with a brain tumour which required him to have 11 operations over a four year time period, the Daily Mail has reported.
He became well-known in the region and in 2007 met football star Peter Beardsley, who played for Newcastle United and England as part of a bid to encourage the public to donate blood.
Footage of the moment the Guardians of the North, a UK group which poses as children in chat rooms to identify people they allege are pedophiles, confront Deans has surfaced online.
The vigilante group wrote on their Facebook page: “This is Corey Deans, aged 22, who was sentenced today after speaking to one of our 15-year-old decoys asking her to meet up for sexual activities".
The group says their motivation is to keep children safe from sexual predators.
Group members called police when Deans arrived to meet “Katie” at South Hylton Metro Station in Sunderland, The Sun has reported.
In the video posted to social media Deans can be seen repeatedly denying that he is meeting up with the girl for sex.
“No, but, I’m not that kind of guy,” an adamant Deans can be seen saying on the vision.
However, later in the vision Deans, who is a technology worker from South Shields, can been seen apologising, saying: “Honestly, I’m really, really sorry mate.”
He then asks, “What is going to happen?”
“I just say stupid things all the time,” Deans ends with.
The judge said it is unclear whether the crime could be the result of his brain cancer.
However, those who know him say his behaviour was hugely out of character.
Prosecutor Michael Bunch told the court Deans got in touch with the "fake profile" soon after it was created, The Sun reported.
Mr Bunch also reportedly said he engaged in "flirty" conversation, which eventually became sexual.
"As the conversations progressed, they continued to have sexual overtones, essentially containing clear sexual requests and topics, raised on each occasion by the defendant asking about having sex, making requests as to what would happen if the two met up," Mr Bunch told the court.
"Eventually, an agreement was made whereby the two would meet in order to have contact.”
According to The Sun Deans was ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register and also abide by a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for seven years.
He was given a six month prison sentence, suspended for two years.
Top news stories - December 20
