Prolific paedophile posed as teenage girl to prey on more than 400 young boys

Man Jailed for Ten Years for Child Sex Offences

A 36-year-old man, James Utting of Aldershot, has been sentenced to ten years in prison for 43 offences related to possessing and distributing indecent images of young boys. He pleaded guilty to the charges, which involved him posing as a 15-year-old girl online to solicit images and videos from boys aged 8 to 16.

Utting's crimes spanned from June 2016 to July 2018, during which he targeted victims across the UK, including Humberside, Grimsby, Sussex, Leeds, Bradford, Southampton, Wakefield, Barnsley, and Sheffield. He admitted to 43 charges and 116 other offences were taken into consideration.

The court heard that Utting often threatened to share the images with the victims' friends and family if they refused to send more explicit content. He carried out these threats in some cases, causing immense distress and humiliation to the victims.

Victim impact statements read to the court highlighted the devastating consequences of Utting's actions. Some victims experienced panic, anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts as a result of his abuse. One victim even threatened to end their own life.

Judge Jane Miller QC emphasized the significant damage Utting caused and the need to protect the public from him. She commended Hampshire Constabulary for their thorough investigation.

Acting Detective Sergeant Wendy Harrison highlighted the prolific nature of Utting's offences and the trauma they inflicted on the victims. She praised the victims' courage in coming forward and hoped the sentence would provide them with a chance to move forward.

The sentence serves as a warning about the dangers of the digital world and encourages anyone who has been a victim of this type of abuse to report it to the authorities.