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A man from Devizes has been jailed for 28 months in prison for child sex offences after he was identified as responsible for sending sexual messages to someone he believed to be a 12-year-old female child on a social media platform.

Alan Wiltshire, 65, was sentenced on Friday (26/07) at Winchester Crown Court after pleading guilty to attempting to engage in sexual communications with a child, attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity and breaching his sexual harm prevention order.

Wiltshire had previously admitted three counts of making indecent images of children and sentenced by Salisbury Magistrates on April 14 to 17 weeks imprisonment, suspended for 12 months and made subject to the Sex Offenders Register and Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 5 years.

His most recent offence placed him in breach of his suspended custodial sentence.

Wiltshire was sentenced to 14 months for inciting sexual activity, 7 months (to run concurrently) for sexual messages, 12 months (to run consecutively) for breaching his Sexual Harm Prevention Order, and two months (to run consecutively) for breaching his Suspended Sentence Order.

He was also issued a new Sexual Harm Prevention Order lasting for 10 years.

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Harley King, aged 19 from Newcastle and and Ben Jennings, aged 20, from Cramlington, in Northumberland were just 17 and 18 respectively when they attacked the woman in 2022.

Following a trial in June, King was found guilty of three offences two charges of raping a woman aged 16 and over and one charge of voyeurism or recording a private act. Jennings was convicted of two charges of rape of a woman aged 16 and over, and one sexual assault charge of a female aged 16.

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A paedophile has been found guilty of 43 historic sex offences against children as young as three. Clinton Royle was arrested after a complaint was made in 2019.

Officers then seized children’s clothing, hard drives, and digital storage devices were from his home. Cheshire Police’s digital forensic unit discovered encrypted and password protected files containing thousands of child abuse images.

The files also contained recordings of Royle’s offending. His victim was aged between child eight and 12 years at the time. Further investigations were conducted, and officers were able to identify other child victims aged between three and 12 years.

Chester Crown Court heard Royle confirmed he was present in the videos and images with the children, he denied the offence claiming that his actions and the images were not of a sexual nature. Despite his denials, he was charged with the offences in April 2023.

Royle, 62, of Elm Drive, Crewe, was convicted following a 11-day trial. He was found guilty of 28 counts of assaulting a girl under 13, two counts of taking an indecent photograph of a child, three counts of possessing indecent photographs of children, three counts of making indecent photographs of child, and seven counts of inciting a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity.

He has been remanded in custody until he is sentenced on September 27. 

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A serial sex offender who targeted two women – and raped one of them – faces a long prison sentence after being convicted by a jury of the "traumatic" offences.

David Beck tried to pretend that the victims were lying about what happened but his claims were condemned as "absolute and utter nonsense" and they were "not plausible" at all, Hull Crown Court heard.

Beck, 30, of Nornabell Street, off Holderness Road, east Hull, denied 10 sexual offences but he was convicted by a jury of six of them after more than eight hours of deliberations, spanning two days, following a nine-day trial.

They involved two offences of rape and two offences of assault by penetration against one woman and one offence of sexual assault and another of assault by penetration against the other woman.

The two rape convictions were both unanimous but three of the other convictions were either by majority verdicts of 10 to two or, in one case, by 11 to one. He was cleared of four offences, with three of them, including two of assault by penetration, involving the rape victim. The other involved a charge of sexual assault on the other woman.

Beck was convicted after a retrial. An earlier trial last year had to be abandoned after additional late evidence emerged.

Richard Butters, prosecuting, said that Beck sexually assaulted both women. "The defendant would say that these two women are liars from start to finish," said Mr Butters.

The rape victim had said: "It's so hard to talk about. It's so painful." Mr Butters asked the jury whether, if the woman was lying, she would allow herself to suffer the stress of the court process. "Would she put herself through the torture that she experienced in this trial?" he asked.

The ordeal had been "traumatic" for her. "This defendant has ruined her life and violated her and she is feeling it today," said Mr Butters.

The second woman had said: "I have got nothing to gain by lying. He did sexually assault me." Mr Butters said: "She felt violated." The woman had told the court that what Beck did was "not right".

It was claimed by the defence that the women and all the prosecution witnesses were lying to the court and were "part of a conspiracy", said Mr Butters. He said of the defence claims: "Everybody is a liar. Everybody is in this conspiracy together. It's not plausible."

Beck claimed that a man had "manipulated" the rape victim into lying. "That's absolute and utter nonsense," said Mr Butters. "His explanations are utterly ridiculous."

During Beck's defence evidence, his barrister, Michael Forrest, asked him whether the sexual allegations against him over the rape victim were true. Beck replied: "It didn't happen, no." He claimed of the two rape allegations: "That's not true."

When asked about how he felt when he was told about the other sexual allegations involving the rape victim, Beck replied: "It was just disgusting to hear. I felt physically ill. I still feel physically ill to this day. I was terrified and scared."

Beck claimed that he had been attacked as a result of the allegations. "I was physically beaten up on the doorstep," he claimed. "I remember being on the floor trying to protect myself. I had to run. I managed to get myself to my mum's property."

Beck claimed, when asked about the allegations involving the sexual assault victim: "That didn't happen. I wouldn't do something like that to a woman, especially without consent."

He repeatedly replied: "That didn't happen" when other allegations were put to him. After the first of the guilty verdicts were announced, Beck cried and wailed and put his head in his hands.

He had been on bail during the trial but, after the convictions, he was remanded in custody. Sentence was adjourned until September for an assessment by the probation service on the danger that he poses to others in the future. He faces a lengthy prison sentence.

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A former Taekwondo world champion and coach who had a sexual interest in boys has been jailed for six years and ten months.

Glen Edwards, 32, of Acrefair, Wrexham, denied 14 counts alleging sexual activity with a child, sexual communication with a child and causing a child to watch sexual acts. But he was found guilty of twelve charges on what the judge called “quite overwhelming evidence.”

Sentencing him on Monday, July 29, Judge Niclas Parry at Mold crown court said there were eight victims “in awe of your remarkable achievements” in sport. Judge Parry said Edwards showed “no remorse whatsoever” for what he’d done.

“Rather bizarrely you claim only to have been targeted for prosecution because of your gender,” the judge remarked. Edwards was an “accomplished athlete" but the judge said: “You are now professionally ruined." Edwards must register as a sex offender for life.

The paedophile had been bailed for a pre-sentence report. But he appeared on a video link from Berwyn jail at Wrexham today. His counsel Jemma Gordon explained that his convictions had meant his home address was no longer available to him.

A female juror was tearful at the end of his trial. The judge had told the jury :”You have had to listen to some harrowing evidence. It’s had an impact on some of you. I am extremely sorry for any distress that was understandably caused.”

During the case, prosecuting barrister Simon Rogers had said Edwards “groomed” young boys and that he didn’t have “any boundaries.” “No doubt the defendant was charming, no doubt he was charismatic, but sadly the truth was he had a sexual interest in them,” Mr Rogers declared.

Edwards accepted a sexual conversation with an underage boy but it had been a “joke”, he claimed in evidence. Judge Parry had told the jury in his summing up :”Someone has lied to you.”

He added: ”Mr Edwards is charged with sexual offences against numerous complainants. The defendant claims they have lied to you.”

However, Edwards had pleaded guilty to engaging in sexual activity with an underage boy in a car. Boys said they were sent pictures of Edwards’s groin, and one received a video of the naked defendant in a shower. A boy claimed that the defendant had discussed sexual matters and sought pictures.

Another youngster said Edwards had asked him a lewd personal question. The defendant had said “hi sexy” in a message and put kisses. Edwards insisted he wasn’t communicating “sexually.”

But he was described as “suggestive” by another of his victims. The defendant had admitted child porn allegations.

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THIS is the face of a sex offender who sent a picture of his penis to who he thought was a 14-year-old boy and encouraged the ‘boy’ to masturbate.

Andrew Gold, 41, of no fixed abode, was described “devious and manipulative” as he was jailed by Judge Catherine Richards at Swansea Crown Court.

Gold had faced a trial over allegations of attempted sexual communications with a child and attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity. He was found guilty of both charges on July 2.

The defendant was sentenced to five years, made up of three years in custody and a further two years extended licence period.

“I’m sure there is a serious risk to young boys,” Judge Richards said as she sentenced Gold.

The court heard that Gold, previously of Tenby, contacted who he thought was a 14-year-old boy named Ryan – but was actually as decoy account – between June and September last year.

“Your conversation soon turned sexual,” Judge Richards said, summarising the evidence heard at trial.

The contact began on a dating app, before swiftly moving on to Snapchat. Gold sent ‘Ryan’ a picture of his penis and asked him to send pictures of himself. He also described sexual acts to ‘Ryan’ that he said he planned do with him, and encouraged ‘Ryan’ to masturbate.

Judge Richards described Gold’s behaviour as “devious and manipulative offending”, as he specifically chose to move the conversation on to Snapchat due to the disappearing messages feature, as well as the subsequent deletion of Gold’s Snapchat account.

“Your actions were determined and calculated,” Judge Richards said.

Prosecutor Georgia Donohue told the court that Gold had relevant previous convictions.

“This was an online offence,” said Dyfed Thomas, in mitigation.

“I accept there was some discussion about meeting. It didn’t really develop.”

Referring to Gold’s offending, Mr Thomas admitted: “There is limited mitigation here”.

Mr Thomas said measures put in place through the imposition of a sexual harm prevention order and the defendant registering as a sex offender would reduce the danger Gold posed to the public, and that he would benefit from taking part in the Horizon programme.

Gold was also ordered to register as a sex offender for life, and was made subject to an indefinite sexual harm prevention order.

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A dad unwittingly took a prolific paedophile on holiday with his family. The parent was left "physically shaking" after finding out the man he had invited along was in fact a "devious" serial sex offender.

Andrew Priday, 61, had secretly obtained a passport and used it to go on a trip to Europe with the family in question, who knew nothing of his past.

He had lied about his real identity to the woman he was marrying and her family. The details emerged during a hearing a Swansea Crown Court, with his crimes described as "determined and devious".

Priday, who has already served two lengthy prison terms for child sex offences, was sentenced to 32 months behind bars for his latest offence.

The Mirror reports Leuan Rees, prosecuting, said that in 2005 Priday was given an extended 11-year sentence at Swansea Crown Court and made the subject of a Sexual Offences Prevention Order.

He was also put on the sex offenders register for life for a string of child sex offences, with part of the conditions for the order being he had to inform the police of any passports he has.

He was also told to tell police of any holiday plans at least a week before they leave. The court heard that in January 2021, Priday applied for and obtained a passport.

But during subsequent annual registration declarations he lied to police and said he did not have one. The court heard that in June this year a family with a child who knew him - but were unaware of his previous convictions - booked a holiday to Bulgaria.

As an afterthought they invited Priday to join them for the final week of their break. Priday flew from Cardiff Airport on June 17 and spent seven days at the family's holiday apartment.

Priday was also found to have a phone in his possession, a device he had not informed police about. The father of the holidaying family later told police he felt "sick" and was "physically shaking" when he learned of Priday's past convictions.

Priday had previously pleaded guilty to three counts of breaching a Sexual Offences Prevention Order and three counts of failing to abide by the requirements of the sex offenders registration scheme when he appeared in the dock for sentencing.

He has 12 previous convictions for 71 offences between 1997 and 2005, including 12 convictions for sexual offences. In 1995 he was sentenced to seven years in prison at Cardiff Crown Court for indecent assault of a child and gross indecency with a child.

In 2005 he was given an 11-year extended sentence as a dangerous offender for indecent assault of a child, sexual activity with a child, making indecent images, and possessing indecent images.

He also has convictions from Kent in 2002 for breaching the terms of the sex offenders register, for gaining pecuniary advantage by false pretences - failing to declare his past convictions when applying for a job.

He also made false statements about his offending history to his then wife-to-be when applying for a marriage licence. Andrew Evans, speaking for Priday, said there was no suggestion of inappropriate behaviour during the holiday.

But he accepted his client had 'faltered' on his requirements. Judge Geraint Walters said Priday seemed to have "given up on any pretence" of complying with the requirements of the sex offenders register and Sexual Offences Prevention Order.

He said the reality was his breaches were "determined and devious". With a one-third discount for his guilty pleas Priday was sentenced to two years and eight months in prison.

He will serve up to half of that period in custody before being released on licence to serve the remainder of his sentence in the community.

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A man who attempted to murder a child who had intervened to stop him raping and sexually assaulting another child has today (26/7) been sentenced after he was convicted of a number of offences including attempted murder and rape.

Anthony Stocks, aged 54, formerly of Icieni Close, Goring-on-Thames, was found guilty by unanimous jury verdict of four counts of sexual assault of a child under 13 and one count each of causing or inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity, rape and attempted murder in a trial at Oxford Crown Court, which concluded on 6 June 2024.

Returning to the same court for sentencing, Stocks was sentenced to life in prison, serving a minimum of 19 and half years.

A joint investigation between Thames Valley Police and Sussex Police found that Stocks had calculated a plan to kill a young boy who had tried to stop him from his offending against a young girl.

Stocks had previously taken the boy to a quarry in Oxfordshire with a plan to push him off the edge, but he changed his mind.

However, on 24 September 2022, Stocks took the child to a set of cliffs at Ovingdean, near Brighton, where he carried out his plan, pushing the boy from the cliff edge.

He sustained extensive serious injuries, but miraculously, survived.

Initially, the boy’s fall was thought to be accidental, but following the launch of an investigation, a much darker reason for the fall became apparent.

Stocks was arrested on 23 November 2023 on suspicion of attempted murder, rape, and other sexual offences and was charged on the same day.

Over a period of three years between 2019 and 2022, Stocks was staying at an address in east Oxfordshire.

During his time there, he subjected a girl to rape and multiple sexual assaults.

The boy, who became aware of Stocks’ offending, attempted to intervene to stop Stocks continuing his abuse, and it was then that Stocks hatched his sordid plan to kill the boy.

The girl had told the boy about the offending and the boy put himself in the way of Stocks to try and stop the incidents from occurring.

Stocks made concerted efforts to stop this, and took the boy to a quarry nearby in east Oxfordshire with a thought of pushing him from the cliff edge.

Although he did not do this at that time, later in the same year, Stocks took the boy to see Chelsea Football Club before heading to Brighton and the cliff side at Ovingdean, where he carried out his plan.

He had told his female victim he was planning to push him from the cliff.

The boy was pushed from the cliff, falling 100 feet to the ground, where he sustained multiple severe injuries. He still suffers from ongoing issues as a result of the fall, but has otherwise made a miraculous recovery.

Deputy Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Sergeant Rachel Jackson of Thames Valley Police’s Child Abuse Investigation Unit, said: “I am pleased that today, Stocks has been handed a very significant sentence for his horrific and evil offences against two young children.

 “Stocks is an extremely dangerous individual, who had no thought about anybody but himself, to protect himself from prosecution by removing the boy from the equation.

“He has never shown any remorse throughout the course of this investigation.

“I would like to praise both victims for their unbelievable courage and resolve that helped us to bring Stocks to justice.

“They showed immense maturity and clarity, both in their interviews with police and at court, about what had happened to them.

“It’s because of this truly inspirational courage that Stocks has now been brought to justice and will now be in prison for long time, where he deserves to be.

“In my years investigating child abuse, this is one of the worst cases I have dealt with, and the impact that this has had on both victims, as well as all of the officers and staff who investigated this, is not to be underestimated.

“Both victims have continued to show courage and resolve, and are moving on with their lives magnificently, with support networks in place for them both.

“Both victims have continued to show courage and resolve, and are moving on with their lives magnificently, with support networks in place for them both.

Detective Inspector Matt Stevens, of Sussex Police, said: “Anthony Stocks’ calculated offending betrayed the trust of two young people.

“Both victims must now live with the impact of Stocks’ crimes for the rest of their lives, but it is testament to both of them how they have supported our investigation and are moving on with their lives.

“They have shown remarkable courage, bravery and determination to support this investigation through to its conclusion. I would like to thank them both for helping us bring Stocks to justice.

“The events of 24 September, 2022, was also extremely alarming for residents of Ovingdean and the wider community.

“It was a miracle it did not end in more tragic circumstances, and I would also like to thank all of those who came forward with information and messages of support.

“Finally, I commend my colleagues and detectives in both Thames Valley Police and Sussex Police for their outstanding work on this joint and very complex investigation.

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A woman who was in a position of trust has been jailed for a string of sexual abuse against boy who was under 16 years of age.

Acasia Welburn, who is now aged 26, of New Road in Telford has been jailed for two-and-a-half years today.

She pleaded guilty to three charges of sexual activity with a child by a person in a position of trust. Welburn appeared at York Crown Court for sentencing.

Welburn’s reign of abuse took place while she was working at a school in North Yorkshire where she worked in a trusted care position.

Welburn started sexual contact with a teenage boy who was autistic. She initially made contact with the boy on social media which involved the sharing of sexual messages and images. A shocking string of abuse followed on from this when she met the victim on a regular basis for sexual intercourse in her car and flat.  

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Benjamin Hassell, 70, was found guilty of indecent assault during a trial after previously pleading guilty to seven charges of making indecent images of a child. The trial heard how in 1987, when the victim was just six years old, Hassell sexually assaulted her at an address in Southampton.

The victim came forward to speak to police to report what had happened to her in 2020, and an investigation was launched. Officers seized a number of electronic devices from Hassell, including a laptop, a digital storage device and an SD card. An examination of these devices revealed more than 2,000 indecent images of children.

Hassell, of Clarendon Road, Southampton, had previously pleaded not guilty to the indecent assault charge, however was found guilty of the offence by a jury. He was jailed for seven years and 10 months.

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Today, Friday 26 July, a man has been sentenced to 19 years in prison after being found guilty of historical child sexual abuse in Liverpool.

Raymond Andrews, 57 years, was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court after a jury found him guilty of two counts of rape and six counts of engaging in penetrative sexual activity with a girl aged 13 to 15.

His heinous offences was committed in Liverpool between 2014 and 2016.

Andrews, who is from Liverpool but has been living in Oldham, was also issued a restraining order, Sexual Harm Prevention Order and will be required to sign the Sex Offender Register for life.

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A paedophile who sexually abused four children has been jailed for 16 years. All of his victims were under the age of 13-years-old.

Gary Hayes, 61, of Taff's Well, was found guilty of indecent and sexual assault of his victims. The offences took place over a period of 14 years from 2002.

Hayes, of Garth Street, was sentenced to 16 years imprisonment, at Cardiff Crown Court on Friday, July 19. He was subjected to sex offender notification requirements for life, an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order and indefinite restraining orders.

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A man who admitted trying to have sexual conversations with children online has been given an extended sentence of more than eight years.

Stephen Poulter, aged 43, was using a chat site to have sexualised conversations with profiles he believed belonged to two 14-year-old girls.

In reality he was talking with a member of an online child abuse activist group, who went on to report him to Northamptonshire Police on February 18 this year.

Officers immediately attended and arrested Poulter, previously of Lindsay Avenue, Northampton, who was already under a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) imposed in 2021 following a previous conviction.

An investigation by the Force’s Online Child Abuse Investigation Unit (OCAIU) revealed how despite being told each ‘child’ was just 14, Poulter had sent them indecent images and videos of himself.

He went on to be swiftly charged with two counts of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and one of attempting to cause a child to look at an image of sexual activity.

Poulter had refused to give the police access to his mobile phone despite this being a requirement of his previous sentence, resulting in him also being charged with breach of the SHPO.

He was also charged with possession of the Class B drug cannabis, which was found in his home upon his arrest.

Having entered guilty pleas to all charges at Northampton Crown Court in March, on July 10 he returned there to be sentenced.

Poulter was given an extended sentence – used for criminals convicted of specific offences who are deemed to be dangerous – made up of 40 months’ imprisonment and a five-year extension period on licence.

He was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £228, with orders made for the forfeiture and destruction of his electronic devices and the seized cannabis.

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A "deviant" pervert who had already been jailed for wanting to target young children for sexual abuse has been branded a "dangerous" offender after he reverted to the same "disgusting" behaviour.

Former Royal Navy serviceman David Parker, a convicted sex offender at the time, started chatting online to someone that he wrongly thought was the eager and willing mother of a 10-year-old girl but who was really an undercover police officer.

He brazenly and shamelessly told the fake mother that he wanted to have sex with her young daughter and that he would bring a cuddly penguin toy with him to keep the girl "entertained" while he abused her.

He had also been tricked the previous time by undercover police into thinking that he was talking to a like-minded sexual predator but he naively fell for the same trap again, Hull Crown Court heard.

Parker, 67, of Cherry Tree Lane, Beverley, admitted nine offences, including arranging or facilitating the commission of a child sexual offence, distributing indecent images of children and breaching a sexual harm prevention order.

Rachel Scott, prosecuting, said that, on February 21 this year, Parker became involved in online conversations with an undercover police officer, who was pretending to be a woman with a 10-year-old daughter.

Parker agreed to trade indecent images of children and he sent the undercover officer sexual images of children. He said that he would love to have pictures taken with the supposed daughter and that he would love to meet the girl and to have sex with her.

He sent a video of a male having sex with a child. Parker said that he would "play penguins" with the girl to keep her "entertained" and he sent an image of a penguin sex toy and discussed using them.

He said that he would love an eight-year-old girl. "Your girl is an ideal age," he told the fake mother. "He confirmed that he was serious about having sex with a child and it wasn't just a fantasy," said Miss Scott.

Parker suggested putting a gag on the girl's mouth. "He discussed meeting with the officer and her daughter," said Miss Scott.

"He discussed meeting the officer at a caravan, which he would pay for. It was agreed that the defendant would travel to the girl's home and stay over."

Parker eventually stopped the messages. He was identified and he was arrested at his home. He told police: "Not again" when he was arrested. He handed over a phone, which was registered with the authorities, but during a search, another phone was found hidden under a sofa cushion.

"That device had not been registered with his sex offender manager," said Miss Scott. Its deleted history included indecent images of children and extreme pornography.

During police interview, Parker admitted chatting online with adults about children but he claimed that he was "not stupid enough to meet them". He denied having a sexual addiction to children but he admitted that, in a fantasy world, he did.

Parker had convictions for 24 previous offences, including being jailed for 15 months in 2008 for possessing and distributing indecent images of children.

In May 2019, Parker, then living in Glebe Road, Brigg, was jailed for four years at Grimsby Crown Court for two offences of arranging or facilitating the commission of a child sexual offence and four offences of making indecent images of children. He had been given an indefinite sexual harm prevention order.

During those offences, Parker was trapped in another secret police operation in which he wrongly thought that he was speaking to the stepfather of two children when he arranged to meet up at a motorway service station.

Parker was in breach of that order.

"This is a very serious breach," said Miss Scott.

Amber Hobson, mitigating, said that Parker did stop the most recent online sexual messages. "He acknowledges that his actions have been nothing short of disgusting," said Miss Hobson.

"He acknowledges that his behaviour is absolutely reprehensible. He is ashamed of what he had done.

"He never formed the intent to meet the person who he was conversing with and that's the reason that the messages stopped as he had determined that the conversation had reached a point that it needed to stop. He says that this was merely a fantasy.

"He was able to demonstrate good insight into the harm and ongoing harm caused by the distribution of that material. He had no intention of meeting the child." Parker had served more than 20 years in the Royal Navy.

Recorder Abdul Iqbal KC said of the fake 10-year-old girl: "Mercifully, this was a fictitious individual but you weren't to know that. You engaged in and started a conversation asking what age children she was interested in sexually.

"You agreed to trade in indecent images of children. You sent various indecent images of children. You have a deviant and unlawful sexual interest in children. You said that you would bring a cuddly penguin and also sex toys with that theme.

"You gave graphic detail about how you would engage in that sexual activity with that child. You believed that you were speaking to the mother of a 10-year-old child.

"You had every intention otherwise to progress the offence if it was possible to do so. There is a significant risk of serious sexual harm from you in the future."

Parker, who was already in custody on remand, was jailed for six years and nine months after he was described as a dangerous offender. He will be on extended licence of three years after his release from prison. He will have to register as a sex offender indefinitely.

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A Ring doorbell pervert who twice tormented a Perth woman with his one-man “porn movies” has been spared jail.

Neil Beattie was caught engaging in a solo sex act on his victim’s front door video recorder.