Swindon child sex offender jailed for four years

A Swindon sex offender who claimed to be a 15-year-old girl online has been jailed for a number of child sex offences.

Paul Webb, 28, formerly of Avonmead, Hayden Wick, appeared at Swindon Crown Court for sentencing after pleading guilty to four counts of attempting to cause/incite a boy aged 13 to 15 to engage in sexual activity and two of attempting to cause a child aged 13 to 15 to look at an image of sexual activity.
He must sign on to the Sex Offenders’ Register indefinitely and is subject to a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).
The sentence follows an investigation by the Wiltshire Police Paedophile Online Investigation Team, formerly known as the Child Internet Exploitation Team, which found that Webb was pretending to be a teenage girl online and repeatedly attempting to engage teenage boys in sexual conversation.
He was subsequently charged and remanded into custody.
DC Sadie McCoy from POLIT said: “Webb is undoubtedly a dangerous individual whose behaviour poses a real risk to children.
“I’m pleased the court has recognised the severity of his offending and has put him behind bars.
“He will also be subject to a SHPO, which places a number of conditions and requirements on him for when he is released from prison.
“Our team works to prevent offenders like Webb from exploiting and abusing children and I hope this case sends a strong message to our communities that we are committed to targeting offenders like Webb who have the potential to cause serious and significant harm."