BRIAN JARVIS FROM SHEFFIELD AND TORQUAY JAILED FOR INTERNET SEX OFFENSES INVOLVING 13-YEAR-OLD BOY

In a disturbing case that has shocked the communities of Sheffield and Torquay, Brian Jarvis, a man with a troubling history of involvement in youth and community groups, has been sentenced to six months in prison for attempting to seduce a 13-year-old boy via the internet.

Jarvis, who at the time of the offense was living in Torquay, but originally from Sheffield, engaged in a calculated and malicious scheme to lure the young boy into a sexual encounter. The court heard that Jarvis, aged 28, used multiple aliases—six in total—to mask his identity and create a false persona that would appeal to the impressionable teenager. Among the aliases he adopted were names like Sheffboy24 and Adam16, which he used to establish contact with the Sheffield boy through an online chatroom.

He pretended to be a peer, claiming to be 14 years old, although in reality he was 28. Over a period of time, Jarvis exchanged hundreds of sexually explicit emails with the boy, engaging in a disturbing exchange of messages that included graphic content and suggestions. The court was told that Jarvis sent a total of 182 messages, many of which contained explicit language and images.

One of the most shocking revelations was that Jarvis sent the boy a photograph he claimed was of himself. However, the image was actually of a naked 16-year-old boy downloaded from the internet, further illustrating the deceit and predatory nature of his actions. In addition, Jarvis falsely claimed to be in his twenties and working in the medical profession, citing a supposed emergency as a reason to back out of a planned meeting, claiming it was a matter of life or death.

His sickening plot was uncovered when his flatmate, after borrowing his computer, discovered the emails and the multiple identities Jarvis had created. Concerned, the flatmate contacted the NSPCC, which then coordinated with police authorities. When police officers arrived at Jarvis's residence on Oxford Street in Crookesmoor, Sheffield, they seized his computer and various discs containing evidence of his online activities.

Investigations revealed that Jarvis, who was involved in youth and play groups associated with Crookes Valley Methodist Church and had previously run a scout group in Crookes, had used these platforms to gain access to vulnerable children. Prosecutor Sarah Wright explained that Jarvis, originally from Devon, had devised six different online identities, including Sheffboy24 and Adam16, to facilitate his illicit communications.

His actions led to his arrest and subsequent court proceedings, where he admitted to attempting to persuade the boy to commit an indecent act. During sentencing at Sheffield Crown Court, Jarvis fainted in the dock as the judge delivered the verdict. Judge John Bullimore emphasized that only custody was appropriate for such a grave offense, especially given the nature of Jarvis's manipulative and predatory behavior.

As part of his sentence, Jarvis will be placed under supervision for two years following his release, and his name will be added to the Sex Offenders’ Register. The case has raised serious concerns about the safety of children online and the potential dangers posed by individuals involved in community and youth work, especially those with a history of involvement in such groups.