RISE PARK MAN HANDED SUSPENDED SENTENCE OVER ONLINE CHILD SEXUAL CHATS
Medication contributed to a change in a 62-year-old man's character after a court heard he had sexualised chats with a fictional girl online.Towle's health deteriorated in 2017 with memory loss and confusion and he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.
He has epilepsy, arthritis, and those disabilities combined with depression significantly affected him, Nottingham Crown Court heard.
The court heard about one medical opinion regarding medication prescribed contributed in a major way to changes in Towle's character and affected his judgement and decision-making.
Towle's medication has since been changed, moderated and amended.
Towle was sentenced to 22 months in prison, suspended for two years, and given 50 rehabilitation activity days.
He is on a sexual harm prevention order and will sign the sex offenders' register for ten years.
The case was heard at Nottingham Crown Court.
Recorder Stuart Sprawson said he was to be sentenced for three offences involving communication with a fictional character.
The 'girl', aged 12, introduced herself to Towle online.
He called her 'princess'.
Over a period of time, Towle became more and more deeply immersed in sexual language, proposing sexual activity to her and made contact online 26 times.
He pleaded guilty to attempting to engage in sexual communications with a child, attempting to cause a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity and attempting to cause a girl under 13 to watch sexual activity.
The charges were between October 28, 2019, and December 11, 2019.
The 'girl' was described as "an undercover operative" who assumed her identity.
There was no actual child involved.
Towle, of Revelstoke Way, Rise Park, would tell her about his personal life but the conversation would almost always turn to one of a sexual nature, said Ian Way, prosecuting.
Rebecca Coleman, mitigating, said Towle was a man of previous good character.
He had cancelled two meetings with her on two occasions and he ended the contact.
"He is described by his son-in-law as being an extraordinary example of a family man," she said.
She referred to reports where Towle was disgusted in himself and deeply ashamed and feels awful about what happened.
"What is of more significance is has medical conditions are said to have had a significant impact on impulse control and cause behavioural changes".
