MAN JAILED FOR CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE AND POSSESSION OF INDECENT IMAGES
The offender, Steven Sowerby, was involved in a serious sexual abuse case where he engaged in multiple sexual activities with a 14-year-old boy.Over several months, Sowerby contacted the boy through social media after initially reaching him via a dating app.
They exchanged intimate images and arranged meetings while the boy's mother was out, during which sexual relations took place in his bedroom.
Recorded evidence indicated there were at least ten such meetings.
On the last occasion, Sowerby offered to buy the boy an Amazon voucher for his X-Box as a bribe to perform penetrative sex.
Following concerns from the boy's mother after checking his phone, Sowerby, aged 33 at the time, was arrested in July 2019.
He denied the charges even after being identified by the victim in an identity parade.
Police found extensive incriminating evidence on his computer, including 675 indecent images of boys.
Additionally, Sowerby created a fake profile under the name 'Leon Smith' to contact multiple boys aged between 12 and 17.
In December, on the day of his trial, Sowerby changed his pleas and admitted to four counts of sexual activity with a child, one count of causing a child to engage in sexual activity, and five counts related to indecent images.
His defence argued he suffers from depression and anxiety, feeling ashamed of his actions.
The court sentenced him to eight and a half years in prison, a lifetime restraining order preventing contact with the victim, and a lifetime Sexual Harm Prevention Order and sex offender notification requirements.
Detective Constable Jonathan Stoker from Durham Police commended the victim's bravery and the detailed digital investigation that led to Sowerby's conviction, emphasizing his commitment to preventing further offending.
