TOBIAS DADSWELL

A sex offender who coerced an underage girl into sending him indecent images has been jailed for five years.

Tobias Dadswell’s home in May Road, Gillingham, was visited by officers in June last year after he was suspected to have breached an existing Sexual Risk Order by having an internet-enabled phone.

The 21-year-old directed officers to the device, which led to his arrest.

A review of the phone showed he had used online messaging platforms to contact users selling indecent images of children.

Profiles purporting to be teenage girls had also been contacted, with him requesting to meet up with them for money following sexual conversation.

A further search highlighted messages he had sent to a teenager unknown to him on a video-based social media platform.

He threatened to spread rumours online about them unless they sent him indecent material of themselves, which they complied with.

Dadswell was charged with nine offences the day after his arrest, with a further eight being added later.

Having been remanded in custody, Dadswell admitted to 11 of the counts including causing a child to engage in sexual activity, breaching his Sexual Risk Order, and making indecent images of children.

Another five counts will lie on file.

He was sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court on January 19 to five years in prison and will be subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order upon his release.

Investigating officer PC Areolito Gashi stated: "Dadswell’s offending in spite of his order shows him to be a persistent danger to children, and we are glad to see him receive a lengthy prison sentence." "His cruel actions have caused serious harm to a young person, and cases like this remind us of the importance of being alert and vigilant while online."