Man Gets Community Order After Child Exploitation Crimes

MAN GETS COMMUNITY ORDER AFTER CHILD EXPLOITATION CRIMES

David Lea, aged 36, from Bentilee, has admitted to engaging in sexual communication with a person he believed to be a 12-year-old boy, but who was actually an undercover police officer.

The investigation revealed that Lea communicated with the officer on social media platforms including Chat Avenue and Snapchat, where he falsely presented himself as a 13-year-old named Ethan.

During these conversations, Lea asked the imagined 'boy' to send him a private area photo of himself.

Police subsequently searched his home and seized two phones containing 20 indecent images of children aged four to 12, categorised as four category A images, six category B images, and ten category C images.

Some images were downloaded between October 3 and October 27, 2023.

Lea pleaded guilty to charges of engaging in sexual communication with a child, making four indecent images, and distributing one indecent image.

At Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court, he was sentenced to a three-year community order, which includes completing 26 days of a Building Choices programme and 35 days of rehabilitation activities.

The judge noted Lea's good character and learning difficulties, indicating these factors played a part in his offending, and emphasised that he sought out images for sexual gratification and shared one with a like-minded individual.

Lea was also ordered to pay £200 costs.