GRAHAM BUTTERFIELD OF MIDDLESBROUGH SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEX OFFenses IN 2017

GRAHAM BUTTERFIELD OF MIDDLESBROUGH SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEX OFFENSES IN 2017

In August 2017, Graham Butterfield, a 56-year-old former soldier from Middlesbrough, was sentenced to prison for his involvement in child sexual abuse material and attempts to incite minors to engage in sexual acts.

Butterfield, a father of two, was found to have sent messages to girls believed to be 11, 12, and 15 years old, asking them to participate in sex acts.

Authorities also discovered that he had downloaded images depicting children as young as seven engaged in sexual acts with adults.

Following the investigation, social services intervened, resulting in Butterfield losing contact with his children, his marriage, and his employment.

Prosecutor Harry Hadfield explained that Butterfield had been arrested in 2013, with the investigation into his contacts with the girls taking several years without success in identifying them.

The offenses occurred in Middlesbrough during 2013.

Butterfield, who resides on Lister Street, Hartlepool, pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent photographs of children, with categories including up to 13 images at the most serious Category A, 24 at Category B, and 1,082 at Category C.

He also admitted to attempting to incite children to engage in non-penetrative sex and to encouraging girls to participate in pornography.

Judge Simon Bourne-Arton QC, the Recorder of Middlesbrough, stated that Butterfield clearly had an unhealthy and sexual interest in young girls, which lasted over a year and was aggravated by several factors.

As a result, Butterfield was sentenced to 40 months in prison, subjected to an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order restricting his internet use, and ordered to register as a sex offender for life.