Middlesbrough, England — A series of alarming voice notes sent by Ellis Dismore, a 24-year-old convicted sex offender, have come to light, revealing his threats prior to attacking a teenage girl. Dismore, who was sentenced to 38 years in prison, faced charges that included stalking and assault following his June 2023 attack on a 15-year-old girl he encountered on social media.
The heinous act occurred in broad daylight in Middlesbrough as the victim was returning home from school. According to reports, Dismore ambushed the girl shortly after she alighted from her school bus, stabbing her multiple times. Bystanders intervened, potentially saving her life. The altercation was captured on video, showing the teenage girl trying to escape as Dismore pursued her.
Prior to the assault, Dismore terrorized the victim’s family, sending them chilling voice notes through Snapchat. In these recordings, he explicitly threatened the life of the girl, detailing how he would carry out the violence. The intent to inflict harm was unmistakable, with Dismore stating he would “put the knife straight in her heart” in an unsettling display of premeditated aggression.
This horrendous attack led authorities to a broader investigation into Dismore’s activities online, where they discovered his longstanding pattern of predatory behavior. Over seven years, Dismore masqueraded as a teenager, crafting a fake social media profile to deceive and manipulate young girls. He coerced them into sending inappropriate images, which he then used to blackmail his victims.
In the course of their investigation, officials linked Dismore to more than 20 offenses concerning the exploitation of young girls. His crimes not only involved stalking and physical assaults but also extensive grooming activities across various social media platforms.
Detective Sergeant Andrew Hamilton described Dismore as a “violent predator” whose actions profoundly affected the community. According to Hamilton, the voice notes Dismore sent contained not only threats of physical violence but also explicit threats of sexual violence, illustrating the extent of his willingness to instill fear and control over his victims.
The conviction and sentencing of Dismore have brought some measure of relief to the local community, ensuring he will no longer pose a threat to young women and girls. Community leaders and residents have expressed deep disturbance over the revelations of his long-term deceptive actions that preyed on vulnerable youths.
The impact of such crimes extends beyond the immediate victims, stirring concerns about the safety of children and teenagers interacting in digital spaces. This case underscores urgent calls for enhanced monitoring and preventive measures on social media platforms, where predators like Dismore may lurk.
Experts in criminal psychology comment that cases like Dismore’s underscore the importance of understanding the signs of grooming and manipulative behaviors online. They advocate for increased awareness and education to protect young internet users from falling prey to such predators.
Moving forward, community and law enforcement leaders are pushing for more stringent regulations and policing of online environments to prevent similar incidents from occurring. Enhanced digital literacy programs for teenagers and parents are also part of the broader strategy to combat such digital age crimes.