JOE ELLIS FROM HENFIELD SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEX OFFENCES AND INDECENT IMAGES

In April 2016, a man from Henfield was sentenced to prison after admitting to a series of disturbing sexual offences involving minors. Joe Ellis, who resides on Weavers Lane in Henfield, faced serious charges that included both online and physical abuse of children.

Ellis, aged 53, pleaded guilty to a total of nine offences in connection with the case. These included the possession of 138 indecent images of children, which ranged from categories A to C, with category A being the most severe. The images were obtained from the internet and did not involve children from the local area, but their existence highlighted the severity of his offending.

In addition to the possession of indecent images, Ellis admitted to engaging in physical sexual offences. These included assault by touching a girl under the age of 13, as well as two counts of inciting and causing a girl under 13 to participate in sexual activities. He also pleaded guilty to engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child, further demonstrating the extent of his criminal behavior.

The offences involving contact with the girl, who was known to Ellis, occurred in 2008. The case was brought to light following an intelligence-led investigation conducted by the Sussex Police Paedophile Investigation Team (POLIT). Authorities received information indicating that Ellis had been sharing indecent images of children via the internet, prompting a warrant to be executed at his residence.

During the subsequent investigation, the contact offences were uncovered, revealing a disturbing pattern of behavior. Detective Constable Helen Curtis of POLIT emphasized the gravity of the case, stating, “Some of the images were of the most serious type, but this is a case which shows that some men who view images of the most horrific child sex abuse can also act out their fantasies by actual physical abuse of children.”

At a hearing held at Brighton Crown Court on a Monday, Ellis was sentenced to four and a half years in prison. He will also be subject to a lifelong registration as a sex offender and has been issued an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO), which imposes strict restrictions on his access to children and computers. The sentence reflects the serious nature of his offences and the ongoing threat he poses to the community.