DANIEL JOHNSON

BLACKBURN MAN JAILED FOR ONLINE CHILD EXPLOITATION

A man has been sentenced to four years in prison after an online sting operation caught him attempting to engage in sexual activities with what he believed were underage children.

Daniel Johnson, aged 50, was caught in June 2023 in a covert police operation where he communicated with adult decoys posing as children.

During the interactions, Johnson sent sexually explicit messages and a lewd video of himself, believing he was chatting with a 12-year-old girl.

The following day, he continued the same pattern with another decoy claiming to be 12.

Johnson also tried to initiate further contact with other 'children', all of whom were decoys, but he was ultimately arrested after police seized his phone.

The device contained seven indecent images of children, 53 images of girls asleep in their underwear, and evidence of concerning internet searches.

Johnson pleaded guilty to multiple charges including attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, making indecent images, and inciting sexual activity.

At Preston Crown Court, he was sentenced to four years in prison, ordered to register as a sex offender for life, and placed under an indefinite sexual harm prevention order.