James Madgin, a married man from Sherburn Village near Durham, admitted he is a paedophile who prefers children aged zero to five but is "flexible" and could go up to nine. The 41-year-old was caught after engaging with undercover police officers posing as a 12-year-old girl, a teacher grooming a pupil, and a mother abusing her children on a live chat app.
Undercover Operation
In November 2025, Madgin contacted a supposed 12-year-old girl called Poppy on the Chatwee app. The conversation quickly turned sexual, Teesside Crown Court heard. Prosecutor Mairi Clancy explained that Madgin confessed to the girl that he was a "paedo," adding that it was "against the law" to speak to her, yet he continued sending graphic messages.
Madgin also spoke to a man called Chris, who he thought was a Liverpool teacher. The decoy told Madgin he was grooming a 12-year-old girl and asked if he had abused children in person. Madgin replied "sadly" not, as he had "no opportunity." He welcomed the idea to "share" the girl and suggested booking a holiday home. He also said it was a "shame" she didn't have a sister he could abuse.
Graphic Conversations
A third profile was run by a woman called Kelly, who claimed to have a seven-year-old daughter she had been abusing since infancy, as well as a one-year-old. An "extremely graphic conversation" followed about raping the baby, with Madgin requesting the schoolgirl wear her uniform when they met. He asked what level of sexual abuse the girl could "tolerate."
Madgin told Kelly he was 13 when he realised he was a paedophile but had "fought the feelings for 25 years" before "accepting what I am." His home was raided on February 23, with hundreds of indecent images of children found on two laptops and a phone, collected over five years.
Court Proceedings
Madgin admitted six counts, including attempting to arrange the commission of the rape of children, and will be sentenced on Tuesday. Previously, he was jailed for eight months in 2009 for 19 offences including making and distributing indecent images. Mitigating, Charles Creasey said Madgin is married and works full-time but "fully accepts having a deviant sexual interest in children."
