Jaywick man sentenced for sending sexual messages to decoy account posing as teenager
Suspended sentence follows trial for making indecent images and attempted engagement in sexual communication
A man from Jaywick has been handed a suspended sentence for sending sexually explicit messages to what he believed was a 15-year-old boy's online account.
Leigh Brown, 43, of Badminton Road, Clacton-on-Sea, appeared at Ipswich Crown Court on the 8th October where he received a sentence of two years and three months imprisonment, suspended for 18 months.
Brown had previously been found guilty of three counts of making indecent images of a child and one count of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child after a lengthy trial.
The offences came to light when Brown was arrested at his former residence in Haverhill in April 2018 following a tip-off from the public.
A search of his property uncovered indecent images on four devices, featuring more than 250 images and videos.
Devices contained 10 category A images and 18 videos, 72 category B images and 26 videos, 130 category C images, and 1 category C video.
The court heard that Brown had sent explicit messages to a decoy account on Grindr, believing it belonged to a 15-year-old boy.
The conversation quickly became sexual, with Brown asking the 'boy' whether he would meet offline, and providing his phone number for further communication over WhatsApp.
Brown continued interacting sexually and asked for explicit images despite being informed multiple times by the 'boy' that he was just 15 years old.
Brown's communication eventually ceased and the matter was reported to police.
In addition to his sentence, Brown has been given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and required to register as a sex offender, both for 10 years.
He was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge.
DC Tina Kitley-Sparks from the Safeguarding Investigation Unit, who led the case, emphasised Brown's risk to children.
"We remain committed to protecting all young people from those who attempt to abuse them,” Kitley-Sparks said.