WIREDGOV

A registered sex offender who pretended to be an 11-year-old girl online for his own gratification has been jailed for five years.

Jonathan Wales, 41, masqueraded as a child and began talking to Simon Riley, 21, of Swansea who is currently serving 12 years in the US for counts including sexually exploiting a minor.

Wales – who has previously been convicted of making and distributing indecent images of children and given an indefinite sexual harm prevention order – was identified by NCA officers after seizing Riley’s computers in September 2015.

Believing a child was at risk, officers investigated and discovered Wales was using the fake profile.

At the same time the NCA child exploitation referrals bureau began receiving reports from the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) of indecent images of children being uploaded from an IP address in the Kensington area of London.

Officers proved Wales was responsible.

Between 28 May and 29 November 2015 Wales – using an email account in the name Robert Dawes - shared 11 moving images of abuse on two website.

Six were at the most serious level.

In July this year NCA officers, assisted by detectives from the Metropolitan Police Service, arrested Wales at his home.

Recently, he pleaded guilty at Isleworth Crown Court to three counts of making indecent images of children and one of breaching a sexual harm prevention order.

Senior investigating officer Colin Radcliffe said: “Wales impersonated children online for his own gratification.

“Catching him and seeing him jailed is the result of strong partnership working between the NCA, regional forces and colleagues in America.

“This operation has now resulted in three convictions in both the UK and US.

“We will continue to work together to safeguard children and prosecute those who are a risk to them.

“Those who believe the internet is a safe place to abuse the most vulnerable in society need to realise their activity isn’t hidden and law enforcement will do everything to identify and prosecute them.”

Child protection charity The Lucy Faithfull Foundation runs the Stop It Now! helpline which offers confidential advice to anyone concerned about their own or someone else’s online behaviour towards children.