A paedophile has been sentenced to six years in prison for a number of child sex offences.
Christopher Smith, 41, of New Brighton, appeared at Liverpool Crown Court on Friday, February 17 after pleading guilty to a number of offences. The charges included engaging in sexual activity with a child, making indecent photographs of a child, distributing indecent photographs of a child and taking indecent photographs of a child.
Smith was arrested on November 18 last year by Merseyside Police. The case followed an investigation by the force's Specialist Online Child Abuse Investigation Team (OCAIT).
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The team consists of experienced detectives who are specially trained in online child abuse investigations in order to both prevent and detect online abuse. The force are now welcoming Smith's sentence, which also includes four years on licence.
Detective Superintendent Steve Reardon, Head of OCAIT, said: “Anybody who is viewing, possessing, producing or distributing indecent images is sustaining the distressing and damaging worldwide exploitation and violation of children. Merseyside Police is committed to child safety and our specialist OCAIT detectives will thoroughly investigate all such reports.
"I would like to take this opportunity to reassure anyone who has suffered a sexual offence that if you can find the courage to come forward and speak to us, we will treat you with sensitivity and compassion. Merseyside Police has specialist officers in the Online Child Abuse Investigation Team (OCAIT) who work tirelessly with other agencies to identify offenders, no matter where in the world they live or what devices they use.
“We also work with other UK forces, agencies and the Child Exploitation Online Protection centre as well as law enforcement agencies across the world who share our determination to protect children from depraved and dangerous offenders online.”
Anyone with information or wants to report sexual offence allegation is asked to call 101 where they will be spoken to by specially trained officers or can pass information to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Support for victims is also available through the registered charity the Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre Cheshire and Merseyside, who can be contacted on 01925 221 546 or 0330 363 0063 or Rape and Sexual Assault Merseyside (RASA) on 0151 558 1801
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