Iain Harrison from Prescot Caught in Child Abuse Sting by NCA in Undercover Operation
| Red Rose Database
Prescot Rapist
In March 2017, Iain Harrison, a 58-year-old man residing on Norris Road in Prescot, was apprehended following a detailed undercover investigation conducted by the National Crime Agency (NCA). Harrison, a married father of two, became the subject of suspicion after engaging in a sinister online conversation with an NCA officer who was posing as a 13-year-old girl on the social media platform Kik Messenger.
During the course of the investigation, Harrison initiated and maintained contact with the undercover officer over approximately fifteen months, with the communication involving around a dozen exchanges. One particularly disturbing message, described by Judge David Aubrey, QC, as “sinister in intent,” read: “Keep in touch won’t you, who knows one day you might be old enough for me to corrupt you.” Although Harrison was not charged directly for these messages, the content of his online activity raised serious concerns.
Subsequently, law enforcement officers visited Harrison’s residence and seized his computer equipment. An examination of his digital devices uncovered a disturbing collection of child abuse images, including those depicting child rape. The material found on Harrison’s computer included 126 extreme pornographic images involving animals, along with a variety of indecent images of children classified into different categories based on severity. Specifically, authorities discovered ten images classified as Category A, the most serious, eight images in Category B, and 73 in Category C.
Further analysis revealed that Harrison had created two separate chat groups on Kik Messenger, where he shared a video depicting a naked young girl. When questioned, Harrison claimed that he had come across indecent images on Kik Messenger and had reported them to the Internet Watch Foundation. However, the investigation showed that Merseyside Police did not pursue the matter further after being informed. Despite this, Harrison continued to download and possess child abuse images, which he bizarrely justified as part of a “personal investigation.”
Harrison’s computer searches included specific terms that indicated a deliberate effort to find such material, suggesting that his actions were not accidental. When confronted, he was unable to provide a satisfactory explanation for the search terms or the images found on his devices. Harrison admitted to having a “fascination” with child abuse images, some of which depicted very young children in distressing sexual situations. One particularly distressing video showed a young girl who appeared to be quite visibly distressed by the sexual activity she was subjected to.
At Liverpool Crown Court, Harrison pleaded guilty to three counts of making (downloading) indecent images of children, two counts of distributing an indecent video clip, and possession of 126 extreme pornographic images involving animals. Prosecutor Peter Hussey outlined the timeline of the investigation, which began in 2015 under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA).
Judge Aubrey sentenced Harrison to nine months in prison, emphasizing the severity of his actions. The judge stated, “You have mentioned the word corruption in those online messages. Well, each and every image that you downloaded represents an element of corruption of a very young child; and each and every image that you distributed or watched on your computer represents the sexual abuse of a very young child.”
In addition to his prison sentence, Harrison was ordered to sign the Sex Offender’s Register for ten years. He was also issued a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, which prohibits him from contacting underage girls and restricts his internet usage to prevent further offenses. This case highlights the ongoing efforts of law enforcement agencies to combat online child exploitation and the importance of vigilance in monitoring digital activity related to such heinous crimes.
During the course of the investigation, Harrison initiated and maintained contact with the undercover officer over approximately fifteen months, with the communication involving around a dozen exchanges. One particularly disturbing message, described by Judge David Aubrey, QC, as “sinister in intent,” read: “Keep in touch won’t you, who knows one day you might be old enough for me to corrupt you.” Although Harrison was not charged directly for these messages, the content of his online activity raised serious concerns.
Subsequently, law enforcement officers visited Harrison’s residence and seized his computer equipment. An examination of his digital devices uncovered a disturbing collection of child abuse images, including those depicting child rape. The material found on Harrison’s computer included 126 extreme pornographic images involving animals, along with a variety of indecent images of children classified into different categories based on severity. Specifically, authorities discovered ten images classified as Category A, the most serious, eight images in Category B, and 73 in Category C.
Further analysis revealed that Harrison had created two separate chat groups on Kik Messenger, where he shared a video depicting a naked young girl. When questioned, Harrison claimed that he had come across indecent images on Kik Messenger and had reported them to the Internet Watch Foundation. However, the investigation showed that Merseyside Police did not pursue the matter further after being informed. Despite this, Harrison continued to download and possess child abuse images, which he bizarrely justified as part of a “personal investigation.”
Harrison’s computer searches included specific terms that indicated a deliberate effort to find such material, suggesting that his actions were not accidental. When confronted, he was unable to provide a satisfactory explanation for the search terms or the images found on his devices. Harrison admitted to having a “fascination” with child abuse images, some of which depicted very young children in distressing sexual situations. One particularly distressing video showed a young girl who appeared to be quite visibly distressed by the sexual activity she was subjected to.
At Liverpool Crown Court, Harrison pleaded guilty to three counts of making (downloading) indecent images of children, two counts of distributing an indecent video clip, and possession of 126 extreme pornographic images involving animals. Prosecutor Peter Hussey outlined the timeline of the investigation, which began in 2015 under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA).
Judge Aubrey sentenced Harrison to nine months in prison, emphasizing the severity of his actions. The judge stated, “You have mentioned the word corruption in those online messages. Well, each and every image that you downloaded represents an element of corruption of a very young child; and each and every image that you distributed or watched on your computer represents the sexual abuse of a very young child.”
In addition to his prison sentence, Harrison was ordered to sign the Sex Offender’s Register for ten years. He was also issued a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, which prohibits him from contacting underage girls and restricts his internet usage to prevent further offenses. This case highlights the ongoing efforts of law enforcement agencies to combat online child exploitation and the importance of vigilance in monitoring digital activity related to such heinous crimes.