Bognor Paedophile Sentenced

A West Sussex man who had been messaging online with someone he thought was a teenage girl, has been jailed.

Jamie Bennett, 44, who is unemployed of Barnham in Bognor, pleaded guilty to sexual communications with the 12-year-old and encouraging her to commit a sexual act on herself.

He was sentenced to three years and nine months at Lewes Crown Court last month.

He will be a registered sexual offender indefinitely and was given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) to last until further court notice, severely restricting his access to digital communications devices and young people.

Sussex Police Paedophile Online Investigation Team (POLIT), working on intelligence, seized communications devices from Bennett's address in December 2019 and revealed evidence of systematic contact between the two, initiated by Bennett on an online messaging platform.

Sussex POLIT Investigator Kayleigh Bartup said:

"This prosecution followed an intelligence-led investigation, part of continuing police work to protect children from sexual exploitation."

“If you have been a victim of child sexual abuse, or have information about anyone else who has, please contact us either online or by calling 101.

"We will always follow up allegations of abuse, no matter when they occurred.

"Victims can talk in confidence to experienced Investigators and we can also help them get access to a range of other support services.”

For further advice about child sex exploitation and sources of support see the Sussex Police website.