Man Jailed for 10 Years for Child Sexual Offences

A Wellington man, Philip Hawkes (55), has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for child sexual offences.

Hawkes was charged with 32 offenses related to online grooming of teenage girls. These offenses included inciting them to commit sexual acts and sending him indecent images.

He was also found in possession of numerous indecent images of children on his electronic devices.

Hawkes pleaded guilty at his first hearing and was sentenced at Bristol Crown Court on Tuesday, July 2nd.

In addition to the prison sentence, Hawkes will be placed on the sexual offenders' register for life and subject to Sexual Harm Prevention Order conditions.

Detective Sergeant Chris Jay stated, "We are committed to tracking down anyone who uses the internet to abuse children, view, or share indecent images of children. This conviction and sentence demonstrate that the police and courts will not tolerate this kind of behavior."