Little Fransham man sentenced for online sexual offences against 'fictional' children
Tilsley believed he was communicating with children but was actually interacting with undercover officers
A 24-year-old man from Little Fransham, has been sentenced today at Norwich Crown Court for online sexual offences.
Luke Tilsley received a 28-month prison sentence, which has been suspended for two years.
He had admitted to five counts of attempted sexual communication with a child, three counts of making indecent images of children, and attempting to get a child to watch sexual activity.
From May 2023 to January 2024, Tilsley believed he was communicating with two girls aged 12 and 13, sending them explicit messages, photos, and videos, and asking for naked photos in return.
However, these 'girls' were actually undercover police officers trained to identify online offenders.
In May 2024, Tilsley was arrested, and examination of his phone revealed previous explicit communications with an unknown child and possession of indecent images.
In addition to the suspended sentence, Tilsley has been placed on the Sex Offenders Register, made subject to a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order, and ordered to pay £933 in court costs and victim surcharge.
Detective Constable Paul Atkinson of Norfolk Constabulary's Safeguarding Children Online Team (SCOLT) said:
"While Tilsley's victims in this case were fictional, the things he said to them were not. These graphic conversations and videos are something no child should ever have to experience.”
He added: “Tilsley also had numerous indecent images of children on his device. Anyone who accesses these kinds of images is creating and fuelling a demand that can only be met by the further abuse of real victims.
We will continue to work tirelessly to bring before the courts those who attempt to prey on children online where they think nobody can see what they are doing.”
Norfolk Constabulary SCOLT collaborates with regional, national, and international partners to make the internet a hostile environment for individuals involved in this type of activity and to safeguard children from sexual abuse.
Victims of sexual abuse, or those concerned it may be occurring, are encouraged to report it via Norfolk Constabulary's website.