Warwick Man Pleads Guilty to Online Sex Offences

A Warwick man has admitted to multiple online sex offences, including attempting to engage a child in sexual communication.

Between May and June of this year, Mark Stewart, of Kempton Drive, used an online messaging platform to send suggestive messages believing he was communicating with the profile of a girl under the age of 13.

His actions alerted the Online Investigations Team at the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit (SWROCU), who made a referral to Warwickshire Police. On June 29th, Stewart was arrested at his home.

A search was conducted, and several items were seized by officers, including his mobile phone. Subsequent forensic analysis revealed that Stewart had been involved in multiple conversations of a sexual nature.

The 32-year-old was also found to have shared images of himself, requested images from the profile of the girl, and asked them to perform a sexual act.

He initially provided a no comment interview, but appearing at Warwick Crown Court on Thursday (3 August), pleaded guilty to:

• Attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child.
• Possessing indecent images of a child.
• Distributing indecent images of a child.

Stewart will be sentenced at the same court on September 18th.