RYAN WINTER FROM CARNMONEY AND MANCHESTER SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEX OFFENCES

In a serious case brought before Belfast Crown Court, Ryan Winter, a man originally from Carnmoney and now residing on Grosvenor Road in Manchester, was sentenced to a three-year probation order following his involvement in a disturbing series of online sexual offenses involving minors.

The criminal activities came to light after a teenage boy disclosed to his mother that he had received explicit images from Winter. The 14-year-old victim's mother promptly contacted the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) to report the incident, which prompted an investigation into Winter's online behavior.

According to court proceedings, Ryan Winter, aged 22 at the time, had sent explicit photographs of his erect penis to the young teenager and had also requested similar images in return. The prosecutor, Simon Jenkins, detailed that the offending took place in June 2015, when Winter was 18 years old. The police investigation revealed that Winter had initiated contact with the boy via Facebook, engaging in sexually explicit exchanges.

During the police visit to Winter’s residence in August 2015, authorities seized his laptop and mobile phone for examination. The digital devices contained a total of 153 indecent images of children, along with 160 prohibited images, which are classified as illegal under current legislation. When questioned by police, Winter admitted to making contact with the youth through social media and acknowledged sending naked selfies. He also confessed to participating in a 'masturbation game' with the teenager while online.

Furthermore, Winter admitted that he had requested most of the indecent images found on his devices from an anonymous online contact. His admissions included causing a child to engage in sexual activity and possessing indecent images of children, some of which depicted acts involving very young children and toddlers. The court was informed that all the images were static photographs, not videos.

Judge RoseAnn McCormick QC, presiding over the case, took into account Winter’s past experiences of homophobic abuse and noted that he has shown some insight into the harm caused by his actions. In addition to the probation order, Winter will be required to register as a sex offender for five years, reflecting the severity of his offenses. The court’s ruling underscores the ongoing efforts to combat child exploitation and protect vulnerable minors from online predators.