RICHARD WHITE SENTENCED IN CRAWLEY FOR ATTEMPTED CHILD SEX OFFENCE
A man who traveled to Crawley after engaging in online contact, intending to meet a girl he believed to be a teenager for sex, has been sentenced to prison.Richard White, 44, unemployed and residing in Timberlands, Storrington, received a 26-month prison term at Lewes Crown Court on Thursday, July 1.
He had previously pleaded guilty to attempting to arrange a child sexual offence.
White will also be registered as a sex offender for ten years and was issued a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for the same duration, which severely limits his access to children and to computers, both restrictions to remain until further court notice.
The case was supported by an investigation led by the Sussex Police Paedophile Online Investigation Team (POLIT), which worked in close cooperation with the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit (SEROCU).
During their operation, police seized communication devices when they arrested White in a car park in Crawley in December 2019.
Detective Sergeant Lisa Heaton from SEROCU commented, “This was a successful operation where the extensive and strong collaboration between Sussex Police’s Online Investigation Team and the South East Regional Crime Organised Unit ensured White was brought to justice.
It also shows the lengths of depravity that White would go to in an attempt to conduct child sex abuse.
Law enforcement operates across the internet, and we will relentlessly seek to bring to justice individuals who use the web to facilitate the abuse of children.” POLIT Detective Inspector Andy Harbour added, “This arrest followed a proactive, intelligence-led investigation, part of our continuing priority to protect children from sexual exploitation from those who seek to do them harm.” He urged the public, “If you have been a victim of child sexual abuse, or have information about anyone else who has, please contact us either online or by calling 101.
We will always follow up allegations of abuse, no matter when they occurred.
Victims can talk in confidence to experienced investigators and we can also help them get access to a range of other support services.”
