Warwick man pleads guilty to multiple online sex offences
He will be sentenced at Warwick Crown Court next month.
Last updated 7th Aug 2023
A Warwick man has admitted to multiple online sex offences including attempting to engage a child in sexual communication.
Between May and June this year, Mark Stewart, of Kempton Drive, used an online messaging platform to send suggestive messages believing he was talking to 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 and on 29 June.
Stewart was arrested at his home.
A search was carried out and several items were seized by officers including his mobile phone with subsequent forensic analysis revealing 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), pleading guilty to:
• two counts of making an indecent photograph/pseudo-photograph of a child
• one count of attempting to engage in sexual communications with a child
• one count of attempting to cause/incite a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity
He will be sentenced at the same court on 18 September.
DC Rachel Priestley, from our force’s Online Child Sexual Exploitation Team (OCSET), said: "Thanks to great partnership work, we were able to quickly identify and track down Stewart.
"His behaviour was despicable, and I hope his conviction shows how we will leave no stone unturned when it comes to bringing offenders to justice.
"Our dedicated team of specialist officers is committed to protecting the most vulnerable members of our communities from people like Stewart.
"Using a range of techniques - including working with other law enforcement agencies - we will continue to pursue and identify those who are sharing material online of children, which is abhorrent."
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