ANTONY CLARE FROM SALFORD JAILED FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY AND ONLINE SEXUAL OFFENSES

In a disturbing case that highlights the ongoing threat of online child exploitation, Antony Clare, a 57-year-old man from Salford, has been sentenced to prison after unwittingly sharing a disturbing image of a young girl with an undercover police officer. The incident unfolded as part of a covert investigation by the Metropolitan Police into the online abuse of children, which ultimately led to Clare’s arrest and conviction.

Clare believed he was engaging in a clandestine conversation with another individual named Paul on a chat platform. Under the pseudonym ‘John,’ Clare maintained contact with ‘Paul’ for approximately three months, during which they exchanged discussions centered around their alleged sexual interests in children. The Manchester Crown Court heard that Clare thought he was communicating with a fellow pervert, but in reality, he was speaking with an undercover officer gathering evidence against him.

During their exchanges, Clare revealed that he had traveled to Cambodia at least once annually over the past 14 years, claiming to have engaged in sexual activities with local girls there. As the conversations progressed, Clare sent a highly disturbing image believed to depict an eight-year-old girl. This image was part of the evidence that led to his eventual arrest.

Authorities tracked Clare down after discovering his residence in Salford. Once they confirmed his address, Greater Manchester Police launched a raid on his home in June 2015. During the search, officers recovered a mobile phone that contained 64 indecent images of children, categorized from the most serious Category A to less severe Category C. The phone also held two images of extreme pornography, further illustrating Clare’s disturbing online activity.

Investigations into Clare’s digital devices revealed that he had also been in contact with other sex offenders, indicating a broader pattern of illicit online behavior. The evidence collected was substantial and compelling, leading to his prosecution.

At Manchester Crown Court, Judge David Stockdale QC sentenced Clare to 18 months in prison. Addressing Clare directly, the judge emphasized the gravity of his actions, stating, “The possession of material of this kind is not a victimless crime.” In addition to his prison sentence, Clare, who resides on Liverpool Road, Irlam, was ordered to sign the sex offenders register for a period of 10 years. He was also mandated to comply with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, which will remain in effect for the same duration, aiming to prevent further offenses and protect the community from potential harm.