Locations
The Holt, Abingdon-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, OX14
Description
AN ABINGDON man has been given a five year jail sentence for a string of child sexual offences.
Linus Rickett, 20, of the Holt, pleaded guilty to the counts - involving boys between nine and 13 - and was sentenced yesterday at Oxford Crown Court.
He was also given a further three years on extended licence after admitting to 13 counts involving 10 boys.
Police say he was a 'prolific offender' who pretended to be a young girl and filmed boys using urinals.
Seven counts involved inciting boys under the age of 13 to engage in sexual activity.
He also admitted to three counts of voyeurism and three counts of making indecent images of a child (one in categories A, B and C respectively).
Senior investigating officer Detective Inspector Ali Driver, of Force CID based at Abingdon police station, said: “Rickett is clearly a prolific offender, targeting young boys to abuse for his own sexual gratification.
“Rickett committed these crimes by pretending he was a young girl of a similar age to the victims online and by filming boys using urinals.
“Crimes of this nature will not be tolerated in the Thames Valley and we ask that anyone who believes they could be a victim of this type of crime or knows a child that could be affected to get in touch.
“Cases of this nature will always be thoroughly investigated to ensure every effort is made to take them through the criminal justice system.”
Rickett will also be placed on the sex offender register for life and will be issued with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
The offences took place between February 2017 and October 2018.