Burbage man, 70, sentenced for several serious child sex offences

A man has been sentenced, for several serious child sex offences.

Archie Rawlings, 70, of Lavington Close, Burbage, has been sentenced to three years in prison, suspended for three years and was given a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention order, after pleading guilty to the following offences:

• Arrange / facilitate the commission of a child sex offence

• Arrange / facilitate commission of offence of sexual activity with child / cause / incite child to engage – penetration

• Arrange / facilitate the commission of a child sex offence

• Arrange / facilitate commission of offence of sexual activity with child / cause / incite child to engage – penetration

• Arrange / facilitate commission of offence of sexual activity with child / cause / incite child to engage – penetration

• Possess extreme pornographic image / images portraying act likely to result in serious injury to person's private parts

Between October 5, 2023 and October 30, 2023, Rawlings communicated sexually with a 14 year-old online and arranged to meet up for sex.

In December, officers from the Paedophile Online Investigation Team (POLIT) attended Rawlings address and he was subsequently arrested and electronic devices were seized.

Further forensic examinations uncovered sexual communications with other children, where Rawlings had arranged and facilitated to meet up for sexual activity.

Detective Sargeant Jason Walsh said: “We remain committed to identifying those who seek to harm children, bringing them before the courts and safeguarding young people from abuse.

“Through extensive digital forensic enquiries, investigators uncovered further evidence of Rawlings' offending against multiple children, ensuring that he was held accountable for the full extent of his crimes.

"I would like to thank everyone involved in this investigation for their professionalism and diligence in securing this conviction. Today's sentence demonstrates that those who use the internet to groom, manipulate and exploit children will be relentlessly pursued and brought to justice."

As well as the suspended sentence and SHPO, Rawlings will be added to the Sex Offenders Register indefinitely.

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