PAEDOPHILE SENTENCED AFTER CHILD ABUSE IMAGE COLLECTION

A man convicted of possessing nearly 200 disturbing images of child abuse will serve over two years behind bars.

Gareth Pettit was sentenced following an inquiry by Cleveland Police’s POLIT (Paedophile Online Investigation Team). He was detained last summer after the National Crime Agency alerted local authorities that the 24-year-old, residing in East Cleveland, had created indecent still and video images of children in Guisborough.

The investigation commenced with specialists from Cleveland Police’s Digital Forensic Unit analyzing the electronic devices of the Suffolk man. This led to the discovery of additional evidence including an incident of indecent exposure, which, with the victim’s full backing, resulted in charges against Pettit for flashing and possession of indecent images.

During a trial at Teesside Crown Court, Pettit initially denied the charges, but on the first day he changed his plea to guilty. He admitted to making 160 indecent images classified as Category C, 24 images categorized as Category B, and 12 images deemed Category A. He also confessed to exposure.

The court sentenced him to a term of 26 months in prison. He has also been placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register and will be subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order with strict conditions upon release.

Detective Constable Lewis Hill, who led the investigation, praised the victim’s bravery in reporting the incident and supporting the case, which helped secure a conviction. He stated, “Her courage enabled us to gather enough evidence, and Pettit’s guilty plea confirms the seriousness of the offense. I hope she finds some satisfaction in the outcome.

“We are committed to identifying those who seek gratification through the distribution of such images and ensuring they face appropriate consequences. I am pleased Pettit has been sentenced to custody and will face ongoing restrictions after his release.”