Sending sexually explicit messages to a child he thought was just 14 years old.

Canterbury Sex Offender Jailed for Targeting Child Online

A Canterbury man, Nigel Stewart, has been sentenced to two years and 11 months in prison for attempting to engage in sexually explicit communication with a child he believed to be 14 years old.

Stewart, of Gordon Road, initiated conversations with his victim on September 13, 2022, and was repeatedly informed of the child's age. Over several weeks, he sent explicit messages, graphic images, and requests for sexual acts.

Kent Police's Paedophile Online Investigation Team uncovered evidence confirming Stewart's deliberate intent to engage in indecent communication with an underage individual. Unbeknownst to Stewart, he was interacting with a fictitious profile. On October 18, officers searched his home, arrested him, and seized a mobile phone.

Following a thorough investigation, Stewart was charged and appeared in Canterbury Crown Court on August 8, 2023, where he pleaded guilty to attempting sexual communication with a child and attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity.

On October 10, Stewart, aged 55, was sentenced at the same court. In addition to his prison sentence, he was placed under a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for the next 10 years.

Detective Inspector Robert Grieve stated, "Stewart aggressively pursued what he believed was a 14-year-old girl, relentlessly bombarding them with indecent messages. Had Stewart successfully connected with a real child, his actions would have caused lasting emotional and psychological harm."

"Custodial sentences like this are essential to prevent individuals like him from potentially inflicting serious harm on children."