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A man from Wakefield has been given a two-year suspended sentence for posting online messages fantasising about abusing children and possessing thousands of child sexual abuse images.

Jack Mallinson, 26, a trainee solicitor and special police constable with West Yorkshire Police, was identified by NCA investigators after he used instant messaging app Wickr to send encrypted content.

In posts from October 2020, he described a graphic, fictional scenario of him abusing two young children and discussed his intentions to abuse a baby.

He was arrested on 7 January last year by NCA officers who seized several of his electronic devices.

Officers found 2,263 indecent images of children (IIOC) on Mallinson’s mobile phone in categories A-C (A being the most severe) and 14 extreme pornographic bestiality images on his gaming laptop.

When interviewed, he admitted writing the posts, but stated the chat was all fabricated. He denied ever committing contact abuse and stated that the posts were designed to be outlandish and provocative.

Mallinson admitted viewing indecent images of children, which were sent to him online via Tumblr or Mega between March and November 2020, but stopped as he had been offered the trainee solicitors job. He also admitted watching extreme pornography.

Mallinson was charged with three counts of making indecent images of children, one count of possessing such images, one count of possessing extreme pornographic bestiality images and one count of publishing obscene posts.

He pleaded guilty to all the charges at Leeds Magistrates’ Court on 2 March this year and was sentenced at Leeds Crown Court yesterday (5 May).

NCA operations manager Matthew Brooks yesterday said:

“Jack Mallinson has undoubtedly abused the huge responsibility entrusted in him as a solicitor, and by West Yorkshire Police.

“Although he did not commit physical abuse, the very fact he posted such disgusting messages to complete strangers online indicates he poses a sexual threat to children.

“He also had a significant collection of child abuse material in his possession. Behind every one of these images and videos is a young victim, who is powerless and exploited.

“The NCA will continue to do everything it can to bring offenders like Mallinson to justice and protect those affected by online child sexual abuse.”