Registered sex offender jailed after admitting several offences
Andrew Hart pleaded guilty to 28 crimes
A registered sex offender has been jailed, after pleading guilty to several offences.
Andrew Hart, 30 and formerly of Thistle Close, Ipswich, appeared at Ipswich Crown Court on Friday 24 September, where he was handed an extended licence totalling 12 years, made up of eight years’ imprisonment and four years on licence.
Extended sentences are handed to those who are convicted of serious violent or sexual offences, where an additional period of post-release supervision is required, to protect the public.
Hart had pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to 28 offences as follows:
One count of attempting to cause/incite a boy to engage in sexual activity
Four counts of causing/inciting a boy under 13 to engage in sexual activity
Four counts of possessing indecent images of children
Six counts of making indecent photographs / pseudo-photograph of a child
13 counts of breaching a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO)
The court heard that Hart used false online identities, to pose as a young schoolgirl, in order to engage with young boys, gain their trust and incite them to send indecent images of themselves.
He used social media platforms, including Snapchat and TikTok, to send messages of a sexual nature, as well as encrypted apps, to hide his chat history.
His offences involved nine victims, all boys aged between nine and 13.
In addition to his sentence, Hart was ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register and to pay a victim surcharge of £228.
An order was also enforced for the destruction of Hart’s iPad and mobile phone.
Detective Constable Ashley Daniels, who was the officer in charge of the case, said: “Hart preyed on the vulnerability and innocence of children. He displayed predatory behaviour and created multiple accounts and false identities, using anonymous browsers and adopted encryption software to avoid detection.
“The impact of Hart’s offending has devastated multiple families, causing lasting harm not only the young victims but their loved one also.
“Whilst this sentence cannot undo the impact of Hart’s actions, I hope it helps the victims and their families to move forward with the reassurance that Hart no longer poses a risk to others.
“This was a particularly complex investigation and I would like to thank my colleagues in the Internet Child Abuse Investigation Team as well as the Public Protection Unit for their determination and commitment to help secure this conviction.
“Suffolk Constabulary is committed to taking swift and robust action against individuals who offend against children online.”