STEWART MEE SENTENCED IN NOTTINGHAM FOR CHILD SEX OFFENSES AND EXPLICIT IMAGE POSSESSION

A 55-year-old man from Nottingham, Stewart Mee, has been handed a prison sentence after being found guilty of engaging in illegal activities involving a schoolboy and possessing indecent images of children. The case highlights the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to combat online child exploitation within Nottingham and its surrounding areas.

On July 4, 2020, Mee initiated contact with a young boy through social media platforms. Despite being explicitly informed of the child's true age, Mee persisted in making sexually explicit propositions, demonstrating a clear disregard for the child's safety and well-being. The Nottinghamshire Police were alerted to these concerning messages in November of the same year, leading to Mee's immediate arrest on suspicion of multiple criminal offenses.

Following his arrest, authorities conducted a thorough investigation of Mee's electronic devices, including his phone and laptop. The examination uncovered several hundred images depicting child sexual abuse. Among these were some classified as Category A, which is recognized as the most severe form of child exploitation material. These findings underscored the gravity of Mee's offenses and the extent of his involvement in child abuse imagery.

During police questioning, Mee admitted to sending the explicit messages but claimed he was uncertain about the boy's age at the time. However, he later pleaded guilty to several serious charges, including inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity, engaging in sexual communication with a child, and three counts of making indecent images of a child. Additionally, Mee confessed to possessing a prohibited image of a child and material classified as extreme pornography, further illustrating his criminal conduct.

His case was brought before Nottingham Crown Court, where he was sentenced to a total of two years and ten months in prison. Upon release, Mee will be required to register as a sex offender and will be subject to a strict sexual harm reduction order designed to monitor and restrict his activities to prevent further harm.

Sergeant John Whitworth of Nottinghamshire Police issued a stern warning regarding Mee's actions, stating, “Mee sought to exploit a vulnerable child for his own sexual gratification and has quite rightly been sent to jail. Nothing is more important to us than keeping children safe from harm. We will find you, we will expose you, and we will see you put behind bars.”

This case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of online child exploitation and the importance of vigilant law enforcement efforts in Nottinghamshire. The community is encouraged to remain alert and report any suspicious activity to help protect vulnerable children from predators.