COLIN CANN FROM CHATTERIS FLEEING UK AFTER ABUSING 10-YEAR-OLD GIRL AND POSSESSING NEARLY 5000 CHILD ABUSE IMAGES

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Chatteris and the wider Cambridgeshire area, Colin Cann, aged 51, was found to have committed heinous acts of child abuse and possession of a vast collection of indecent images. The case came to light after Cann was identified as the perpetrator of a sexual assault against a 10-year-old girl, an incident that has left many in the community deeply unsettled.

According to court proceedings, Cann had been engaging in a disturbing pattern of online grooming and threats directed at a young girl since September 2014. The communication began sometime between the 1st and 16th of September that year, when Cann initiated contact through an instant messaging application. His messages to the girl included inappropriate propositions, such as, “I’ll show you mine if you show me yours,” which indicated a clear intent to exploit her.

Further investigations revealed that Cann had sent the girl explicit photographs, including one depicting a young girl performing a sexual act on an older man, which he claimed was himself. Over the course of their messaging exchange, the girl received multiple images of Cann engaging in sexual acts within his home. The situation escalated on September 15, when Cann’s messages turned threatening, adding a layer of danger to an already disturbing case.

Authorities traced the grooming activities back to Cann, leading to a police raid at his residence in High Street, Cambridgeshire, in February 2016. During the search, officers uncovered a horrifying collection of digital material. On a computer and various storage discs, they discovered a total of 2,565 category C indecent images of children, 1,000 category B images, and 1,392 category A images—the most severe classification of child abuse images. These findings underscored the severity of Cann’s offending and his possession of some of the most severe child-abuse images known.

In his police interview, Cann admitted that he had downloaded the images with the misguided intention of trapping other chat users who might have an interest in children. His explanation did little to mitigate the gravity of his actions. The police charged him with seven offences, including two counts of causing or inciting a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity, two counts of causing a girl under 13 to view sexual images, and three counts of making indecent images of children.

Following his arrest, Cann was extradited from the United States back to the United Kingdom in February 2023. He was subsequently brought before Huntingdon Law Courts, where he faced sentencing on Friday. The court sentenced Cann to four years and six months in prison. Additionally, he was placed on the Sex Offenders Register indefinitely and subjected to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, also indefinite, to monitor and prevent any potential future offending.

After his extradition, Cann resided in Clay Way, Ely, but his criminal activities have now led to a significant prison sentence and ongoing monitoring measures. The case highlights the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to combat online child exploitation and protect vulnerable victims from further harm.