GRAHAM WILLIAMS, SOUTHAMPTON COURIER, JAILED FOR OFFENCES INVOLVING CHILD EXPLOITATION
A Southampton courier described as 'disgusting' and a risk to children has been sentenced to prison.Graham Williams, aged 30, pleaded guilty to 14 charges, including possession and distribution of indecent images of children.
Despite claiming to be 'in denial' about his sexual interests in minors, police found more than 100 images on all of his electronic devices.
Williams was sentenced to four years and one month at Southampton Crown Court.
Prosecutor Siobhan Linsley explained that Williams’ manager discovered indecent images on his phone after he was due to deliver a parcel to a 17-year-old female customer.
After initially struggling to deliver the package, Williams engaged in numerous text and WhatsApp messages with her.
The girl contacted her father, who was Williams’ employer, and a meeting was arranged during which Williams was asked to show his phone.
Miss Linsley stated, 'The manager asked to see Williams’ personal phone that the message had allegedly been on.
But when he went on the phone, he saw photographs of females, which were of an indecent nature.' Despite being arrested, Williams continued to offend while on bail.
The court also learned that Williams had used an alias to contact children online.
His profile picture was of a teenage girl, and when questioned about his identity, he claimed to be 'a 14-year-old.' He would inquire about the girls’ ages and whether they were virgins, regardless of whether they were under 16.
Police seized all of Williams’ personal devices, which contained 163 images, including 73 classified as Category A.
In mitigation, Timothy Akers said the offences were 'frankly disgusting,' but noted that the number of images was not particularly high.
He also mentioned that since his offending began in 2015, Williams' partner had left him, taking their two-month-old child.
In sentencing, Judge Gary Burrell QC dismissed Williams’ claims that he was not attracted to children as 'preposterous' and emphasized his evident sexual interest in minors.
The judge stated, 'He struggles to accept what he has done and is in denial.
It’s hardly surprising no one is here for him.
He’s committed these offences.
He has to face the consequences, often resulting in isolation.' The judge added, 'You are interested in children.
What else can it mean but having one?
You’re a risk to any community, especially one with children.' Williams, of Millbrook Road West, was also ordered to sign the sex offenders’ register for life and placed under a lifelong sexual harm prevention order.
