July 2023 Paedophile from Truro spared jail because he’s dying of cancer A pervert has avoided prison despite being convicted of sick web sex chats with what he believed to be two young girls because he has terminal cancer James Amos, 41, attributed his offending to a sense of isolation after terminal cancer ripped his life apart. Amos, from Blackwater near Truro, appeared at Truro Crown Court for sentence after pleading guilty to two charges of attempted sexual communications with a child, two attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity charges and making indecent images of children. Prosecuting the case, Nigel Hall told the court how Amos’ criminality came to light as a result of investigations by regional crime units in The Midlands and South West. The first offences involved Amos, in March 2020, engaging in communication on Kik messenger with a person he believed to be a 12-year-old girl who was actually a police officer. Amos soon turned the communication sexual and made references to anal, vaginal and oral sex and things he wanted to do to the ‘girl’. Further conversations followed in which Amos requested pictures and urged her to carry out a sex act in school. The second set of offences involved Amos contacting another police officer online who he believed to be a 13-year-old girl. On numerous dates Amos was involved in sex chats with the ‘girl’ and he also sent her pictures of his penis. The court heard how Amos was arrested at work and made full and frank admissions. He spoke of his terminal cancer and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and acknowledged what he did was wrong. Amos has an 8 per cent chance of living for five years and a 0 per cent chance of living for 10. Amos has since his arrest lost his job, his wife and his children. Sentencing Amos, Recorder John Trevaskis went back over Amos’ offending before noting his good character and the terminal diagnosis of his illness, saying it was not clear how he’d be treated in prison. Recognising Amos’ remorse, positive good character and prospect of rehabilitation, he was given a two year prison sentence, suspended for two years. He must complete a rehabilitation activity requirement and 120 hours of unpaid work. He was also made subject of a sexual harm prevention order.