IGNAS NAVIKAS FROM WORCESTER FACES COURT OVER NEW CHILD SEX OFFENCES
In June 2021, Ignas Navikas, a resident of Worcester, appeared once again before Worcester Magistrates Court to face additional charges related to his previous offences involving child abuse.This hearing followed the discovery of further illegal material linked to the 38-year-old man, who had already admitted to a series of serious child sex offences earlier that year.
Back in May 2021, Navikas had pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including the sexual assault of an unidentified boy under the age of 13, which occurred between July 1 and November 27 of the previous year.
He also admitted to creating and possessing a significant number of indecent photographs of children, with the images categorized into different levels of severity: 422 at Category A, 188 at Category B, and 747 at Category C.
These offences painted a disturbing picture of his activities, which had taken place over several months and involved multiple devices.
On the day of the latest court appearance, Navikas returned to Worcester Magistrates Court to face new allegations.
He pleaded guilty to making more than 400 additional indecent images of children, with specific counts including 38 images at the most serious Category A, which were produced between January 1, 2018, and November 27, 2020.
Furthermore, he admitted to creating 85 images at Category B, 238 at Category C, and possessing one prohibited image of a child within the same timeframe.
The prosecution, led by Melanie Winterflood, revealed that the investigation uncovered these images through a forensic examination of a mobile device linked to Navikas.
According to Winterflood, authorities found that the images had been uploaded via a Kik messaging account registered to Navikas.
A police warrant was executed, leading to the seizure of his mobile phone.
Subsequent data extraction and analysis revealed a substantial collection of indecent multimedia involving children aged between three and fifteen.
The evidence indicated a disturbing pattern of exploitation and distribution of child abuse material, which was stored on multiple devices.
During the hearing, Mark Turnbull, representing Navikas, explained that the police investigation was conducted in two phases.
He expressed uncertainty about why the police proceeded in the manner they did but clarified that the additional offences were charged after the forensic download of the device was completed.
Turnbull emphasized that these new charges are connected to the earlier offences and are of a similar nature.
The magistrates agreed to link the new offences with the previous ones, and sentencing was scheduled for June 29.
Throughout the proceedings, Navikas maintained a guarded demeanor, again choosing to conceal his face outside the courtroom.
The presiding magistrate issued a stern warning, indicating that Navikas could face a custodial sentence once sentenced.
The gravity of his actions and the potential for imprisonment underscored the serious nature of the case, which continues to unfold as the legal process advances.
