WASHINGTON MAN JAILED FOR CHILD ABUSE IMAGES AFTER POLICE STING
A Washington man who believed he was having sexual conversations with a 13-year-old boy online has been jailed for two years after a police sting uncovered a stash of horrific child abuse images.James Carr, 28, of Western Terrace, Washington, was caught after an undercover law enforcement officer posed as a teenage boy on a dating app in November last year.
Newcastle Crown Court heard that Carr began chatting with what he thought was a 13-year-old on the Hornet dating site before sending a sexual image of himself.
The pair then switched to Snapchat, where Carr sent another explicit photograph and a video.
Despite being told the person he was speaking to was only 13, Carr replied: “I don’t mind at all.” Police arrested him soon afterwards and seized his electronic devices.
Forensic examination revealed 150 indecent images of children, including videos of youngsters aged between two and 12, some of whom appeared to be suffering pain and distress.
Investigators also discovered Carr had shared 14 abuse images with other users online.
Carr admitted attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, three counts of making indecent images of children, and three counts of distributing indecent images of children.
Recorder Peter Makepeace KC sentenced him to two years in prison, saying: “I do not feel the public would think justice had been done if I were to suspend the sentence.” The court heard Carr, who has been diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorder, is “highly intelligent” and has a strong employment record.
Defending, Sophie Allinson-Howells said Carr was not speaking to a real child — only a police decoy — and described that as “sheer luck rather than design”.
She added that he felt “deep shame and disgust” for his actions.
Carr will also be placed on the sex offenders register and made subject to sexual harm prevention measures.
