PAUL BOWER, SHEFFIELD BIO-MEDICAL SCIENTIST, JAILED FOR ONLINE CHILD SEXUAL OFFENCES
A bio-medical scientist from Sheffield has been sentenced to three years in prison for attempting to sexually abuse children online through explicit conversations.Paul Bower, also known by the online alias 'Paulguy10', was identified during a covert operation by the National Crime Agency (NCA), which targeted individuals using the internet to develop sexual relationships with minors and manipulate them into sending indecent images.
Evidence revealed that Bower engaged in sexualized chats with who he believed were two 13-year-old girls, and he sent a photograph of his erect penis during these exchanges.
In reality, he was communicating with undercover NCA officers.
The 33-year-old, who was employed at a local hospital, was arrested in October 2019 after authorities traced him through his online moniker.
During a search of his home, officers confiscated various digital devices.
Analysis of these devices uncovered nearly 350 indecent images of children (IIOC).
Bower faced multiple charges, including possession of IIOC, two counts of attempting to induce a female child under 13 to engage in sexual activity, attempting to communicate sexually with a child, and two counts of attempting to cause a child under 13 to view sexual images.
He pleaded guilty to all charges and was sentenced this week at Sheffield Crown Court to three years in prison.
Additionally, Bower was placed under an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order and was registered as a sex offender for life.
Neil Baxter, Operations Manager at the NCA, commented on the case: “Sexual predators like Bower prey on vulnerable young children and abuse them for their own sick gratification.
Offenders often hide behind online profiles in an attempt to mask their identities.
As we have seen with this case, these people are not protected.
Identifying and disrupting individuals with a sexual interest in children is an absolute priority for the NCA.
This time, we know it was our officers Bower was speaking to, but next time could have been a different story.
He also had a significant collection of indecent images of children on his devices.
The amount of distress and trauma this abuse can cause young people is immeasurable.
It is only right that Bower is jailed for his crimes where he no longer poses a risk to children.”
