ANDREW MADGE

JAYWICK MAN JAILED FOR ONLINE CHILD SEXUAL OFFENSES

A man from Jaywick named Andrew Madge has been jailed after he engaged in online conversations with what he believed were teenage girls through fake accounts set up to catch paedophiles.

He messaged two separate accounts, requesting sexual photos, asking for sex acts, and offering to buy clothing for the minors, even offering to drive to meet them at a bed and breakfast to carry out a sexual act.

Madge, 56, admitted to eight charges in total, which included two counts of making indecent images of children, two counts of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, and attempting to cause or incite a child to engage in sexual activity.

The police discovered Category B and C images on devices belonging to him.

During court proceedings, Judge Christopher Morgan sentenced Madge to serve one year and eight months in prison before being released on licence.

The judge stated that there was "little doubt" from the conversations that Madge believed he was talking to a real child, and described the behavior as likely grooming, noting it was sexually motivated.

The court heard that Madge had no previous offending history and argued for a suspended sentence, but the judge emphasized the seriousness of his actions.