Child sex offender jailed for 12 years after admitting string of sick crimes

Thomas Nellist, 23, was sentenced at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court on Monday, March 20, after pleading guilty to a series of child sex offenses.

Nellist, from Biddulph, admitted to five counts of inciting a boy under 13 to engage in sexual activity, three of engaging in sexual activity with a boy aged 13 to 15, eight of making multiple indecent photographs/pseudo-photographs of children, and attempting to cause a child under 13 to watch/look at an image of sexual activity.

He also admitted to possession of multiple prohibited images of children and possession of an extreme pornographic image. The offenses took place in Staffordshire between 2017 and 2022.

Nellist was placed on the Sex Offenders Register and will be subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) for life.

Det Con Emily Raybould, the officer in the case, said: "I would urge anyone who has been a victim of such crimes to come forward and report this to us. We will listen to you, and you and your families will be supported by specially-trained detectives and support workers."

"If you are or have been a victim or you are worried about something, and you don't feel ready to talk to the police, please speak to someone you trust," she added.