Whitehaven man jailed for online child sex offences
75 year old Geoffrey Restrick was sentenced to 29 months in prison
Following a joint operation between Cumbria Constabulary's Cyber and Digital Crime Unit and the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit, a string of arrests were made in relation to sexual offences against children.
Following a two-day targeted operation, four men were arrested between 26 June and 27 July.
Yesterday (July 27), one of the defendants, Geoffrey Restrick, 75, from Whitehaven, was sentenced to 29 months imprisonment for attempt sexual communication with a child and arranging or facilitating the commission of a child sex offence. Restrick was placed on the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years and was given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for the same term.
Another of the suspects, who is already a registered sex offender following the commission of a similar offence previously, was charged with attempt sexual communication with a child as well as a breach of his Sexual Harm Prevention Order. He was remanded in custody following his arrest.
Two further suspects – a 43-year-old man from Cleator Moor and a 51-year-old man from Longtown - were arrested and released on conditional bail whilst the investigations are progressed.
In each case, the defendants thought they were communicating with a young child, but it was actually an undercover police officer.
Detective Inspector Fiona Gray from the Cyber and Digital Crime Unit said:"We work closely with our partners at the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit and have a range of tools at our disposal to identify those who pose a risk of sexual harm to children and bring them to justice"
"Let this be a warning to anyone who has, or is considering communicating with children sexually, that you will face the full force of the law. You must also consider the consequences for your family, friends and employment."
"If you are concerned that a child is being, or is vulnerable to sexual abuse or exploitation, please report this to the constabulary immediately though any of our various reporting channels" Hear all the latest news from across the UK on the hour, every hour, on Greatest Hits Radio on DAB, smartspeaker, at greatesthitsradio.co.uk, and on the Rayo app.