JAMES UTTING OF ALDERSHOT JAILED FOR TEN YEARS OVER OFFENCES INVOLVING YOUNG BOYS ACROSS UK

A 36-year-old man from Aldershot, James Utting of St Michael's Road, was sentenced to ten years in prison after pleading guilty to 43 charges related to possessing and distributing indecent images of boys from various parts of the UK. The court heard that Utting also admitted to a further 116 offences to be considered in sentencing. He appeared before Winchester Crown Court on Friday, June 5, where she also imposed an extended five-year licence upon his release.

Utting employed a duplicitous online persona, pretending to be a 15-year-old girl to coax boys into sending him images and videos via social media platforms. On some occasions, he requested additional content and threatened to share the material with their friends and family if they refused. Despite tearful pleas from his victims, he carried out these threats in certain cases.

The victims, all boys aged between 8 and 16, were located across the UK, including areas such as Humberside, Grimsby, Sussex, Leeds, Bradford, Southampton, Wakefield, Barnsley, and Sheffield. While charges concerned 11 victims, police discovered images of 401 boys, many of whom remain unidentified.

Victim impact statements were read aloud in court, revealing the devastating psychological effects caused by Utting’s actions. The threats and public sharing of images resulted in low self-esteem, panic, anxiety, depression, humiliation, and in one case, a victim contemplating ending their life.

Her Honour Judge Jane Miller QC addressed Utting during sentencing, stating: “It’s right to say the impact statements showed the very real damage your actions caused the victims in this case. Actions that could affect their whole lives. It is only hoped the boys will be able to pick themselves up and move forwards after this. I hope they understand that it wasn’t their fault. The damage done was considerable. No court can risk that happening again. The public needs protection from you.”

The judge also praised Hampshire Constabulary officers for their work in the extensive and complex investigation.

The charges against Utting included causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, causing a child to view sexual images, distributing indecent images of children, possessing such images, and engaging in sexual communication with a child.

Following the sentencing, Acting Detective Sergeant Wendy Harrison commented: “Utting’s offences were so prolific and caused so much trauma and distress to so many young people right across the country. He targeted and exploited young and vulnerable boys by hiding his true identity behind a fake and digital persona. I just hope this sentence can now allow those young people and their families to move ahead with their lives.”

Sergeant Harrison emphasized the importance of victims coming forward and assured that the authorities take such allegations very seriously, working tirelessly to bring offenders to justice. She also urged others who have suffered similar abuse to report it, regardless of when it occurred.