JAMES PIDGEON AND SHOCKING CHILD SEX OFFENCES IN HOLSWORTHY AND TORQUAY

A 57-year-old man from Devon, James Pidgeon, has been sentenced to five and a half years in prison following a police operation that uncovered his involvement in serious child sex offences. Pidgeon, who resides at Crest Hill, Buckfastleigh, was found guilty of multiple charges related to the exploitation of children, including arranging to sexually abuse a minor, distributing indecent images of children, and breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) that was previously imposed to restrict his online activities.

The sentencing took place at Exeter Crown Court on Tuesday, 3 October. In addition to his prison term, Pidgeon received an extended license period of five years, meaning he will be under supervision upon release. The court also issued an indefinite SHPO against him, which prohibits him from accessing certain online platforms or engaging in activities that could facilitate further offences. Furthermore, a court order mandated the forfeiture of digital devices belonging to Pidgeon, aiming to prevent him from continuing his illegal online conduct.

During the proceedings, the court was informed that Pidgeon is a registered sex offender with a history of convictions for possession and creation of indecent images of children. Despite being subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, which was designed to prevent him from reoffending, he persisted in engaging in online activities that involved children. This pattern of behaviour was uncovered through diligent work by the Devon and Cornwall Police Paedophile Online Investigation Team, who identified Pidgeon as a suspect following extensive digital investigations.

The case took a further serious turn when the North East Regional Organised Crime Unit (NEROCU) conducted a sting operation. Undercover officers from NEROCU engaged Pidgeon in online conversations, during which he believed he was communicating with someone who had access to a child. In reality, the individual was a police officer operating under cover. Transcripts of these conversations revealed disturbing details: Pidgeon openly boasted about having been a paedophile for over 30 years and shared multiple indecent images and videos depicting children being sexually abused, some involving infants.

In the transcripts, Pidgeon expressed a disturbing desire to rape children, specifically mentioning a preference for female toddlers. He also discussed plans to meet with the supposed access to a child, with the intent to commit further abuse. The police acted swiftly once these conversations were uncovered, coordinating an operation to arrest Pidgeon at a pre-arranged meeting point on Torquay seafront. Officers moved in and took him into custody.

Pidgeon was remanded into custody in July of this year and faced multiple charges, including arranging and facilitating child sex offences, distributing indecent images of children, and breaching his Sexual Harm Prevention Order. The investigation was led by Detective Constable Sophie House, who emphasized the importance of vigilance: “Despite being subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, this did not deter Pidgeon from continuing to commit online offences relating to children.”

This case highlights the ongoing efforts of law enforcement agencies to combat online child exploitation and the importance of monitoring individuals with a history of offending, even when legal restrictions are in place. The community of Holsworthy and surrounding areas remain vigilant as authorities continue their work to protect children from such predatory behaviour.