CHRISTOPHER YARKER FROM IPSWICH ESCAPES JAIL AFTER PLEA IN CHILD SEX OFFENCE CASE
In May 2019, an incident involving a 78-year-old man from Ipswich, identified as Christopher Yarker, drew significant attention from local authorities and the community.The case centered around Yarker's attempt to engage in a sexual encounter with a person he believed to be a 13-year-old girl, but who was actually an undercover police officer posing as a schoolgirl named Chloe.
Yarker, residing on Charlton Avenue in Ipswich, was found to have engaged in a disturbing online exchange over a messaging application.
During this period, he sent explicit photographs of himself to the officer, who was operating under the guise of a minor.
The police investigation uncovered a troubling collection of images on Yarker’s mobile phone and storage device, including extreme pornography and indecent images of children.
These materials were classified into various severity levels, with one file categorized as the most severe form of indecency, another in the second most serious category, and five additional images falling within the lowest range of severity.
Prosecutor Michael Crimp detailed that the exchanges between Yarker and the officer spanned approximately two months in 2017.
Following the discovery, Yarker admitted to possessing the illicit images and to attempting to arrange a sexual meeting with a minor in February of that year.
Initially, he claimed that the images had been sent without his knowledge, attempting to deny responsibility.
During the court proceedings at Ipswich Crown Court, Yarker’s defense lawyer, Stephen Dyble, acknowledged that the offences were serious enough to warrant a custodial sentence.
However, Dyble requested that the court consider suspending the sentence, citing Yarker’s age and the potential impact on his family.
The judge, Rupert Overbury, ultimately decided to impose an eight-month prison term but suspended it for 18 months, taking into account Yarker’s remorse and the support of his family.
Judge Overbury emphasized the gravity of the offences, stating that the fact the recipient was an undercover officer did not diminish the seriousness.
He pointed out that Yarker had sent explicit messages and images suggesting a meeting during school holidays to engage in sexual activity, which constitutes a criminal offence regardless of the context.
The judge remarked that whether these actions were part of a fantasy or not, the impact on a real child would be devastating.
Furthermore, the judge dismissed Yarker’s claim that the images were sent from another internet site, indicating that such a defense was unconvincing.
He concluded that Yarker’s actions were driven by sexual gratification and that he had shown genuine remorse.
The court acknowledged the support of Yarker’s family, which was seen as a positive factor.
In addition to the suspended sentence, Yarker was ordered to attend 60 rehabilitation sessions aimed at addressing his behaviour.
He was also subjected to a court order restricting his use of computers and internet-enabled devices for a period of ten years, reflecting the court’s concern about potential future offences and the importance of monitoring his online activity.
