LUKE ALDER FROM GOOLE SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEX OFFENCES AND CHILD PORNOGRAPHY

In April 2022, Luke Alder, a 30-year-old man from Eastgate, Goole, faced serious criminal charges related to child sexual exploitation and possession of indecent images. The case was brought to light after police investigations uncovered disturbing online activity involving Alder, who believed he was engaging in inappropriate conversations with a 12-year-old girl. However, the individual he was communicating with was actually an online decoy designed to catch predators.

According to court reports, Alder engaged in a series of explicit and graphic exchanges with the decoy, which he claimed were part of an effort to identify and catch other sexual predators. He asked the decoy personal questions, requested photographs, and made sexual propositions. At one point, he inquired whether the girl could become pregnant if they had sex, and he encouraged her to send a topless picture. The decoy, posing as a young girl, sent a photograph in pyjamas, but Alder pressed for more explicit images, including requests for her to remove her clothes.

The police investigation was initiated after authorities from the regional organised crime unit traced the online conversations. On September 15, 2021, Alder was arrested at his residence. During the search, officers discovered a disturbing collection of child sexual abuse images and videos stored on his computer. The material included 19 indecent images classified as Category A, which depicted children in distress or pain, some as young as two years old, with others up to 15 years old. Additionally, there were 18 images in Category B, eight in Category C, and 38 prohibited images of children.

Prosecutor Stephen Robinson outlined the severity of the case, emphasizing the disturbing nature of the images and Alder’s attempts to justify his actions. Alder admitted to attempting to cause a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity between August 14 and 21, 2020. He also pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children and one count of possessing prohibited images, all committed on September 15 of the previous year.

In sentencing, Alder was handed a three-year prison term. Furthermore, he was subjected to a lifelong sexual harm prevention order and was ordered to register as a sex offender for life. The court’s decision reflects the gravity of his crimes and the ongoing threat posed by individuals involved in child exploitation and possession of child abuse material.