Hartlepool man jailed for plotting on Skype to abuse children as young as four

A 53-year-old man has been jailed for more than four years for plotting to abuse children as young as four.
David Walker took part in an online chat with a fellow sex offender where the pair discussed how they would abuse three children, aged four, five, and six, and take videos of their actions.David Walker took part in an online chat with a fellow sex offender where the pair discussed how they would abuse three children, aged four, five, and six, and take videos of their actions.
David Walker took part in an online chat with a fellow sex offender where the pair discussed how they would abuse three children, aged four, five, and six, and take videos of their actions.

David Walker took part in an online chat with a fellow sex offender where the pair discussed how they would abuse three children, aged four, five, and six, and take videos of their actions.

Walker was found to have dozens of revolting images of children on his computer, and a cannabis farm capable of yielding drugs worth £10,000, Teesside Crown Court heard.

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Prosecutor Laurie Scott told the court Walker made contact with a serious sex offender in Wales via Skype.

The case was heard at Teesside Crown Court. The case was heard at Teesside Crown Court.
The case was heard at Teesside Crown Court.

“That man has since been sentenced to life imprisonment for child sex offences,” added Ms Scott.

“During the chat, Walker sent the man a picture of his private parts.”

The court heard Walker made suggestions of abuse against the children.

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Police in Wales tracked down Walker and passed his details to colleagues in Cleveland.

They raided his house where they found a stash of child sex abuse images and video.

“There were 74 of the most serious category A images,” said Ms Scott.

“Of these, 46 were moving images.

“Also found was 37 category B images, and 29 at category C.”

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The court heard Walker’s cannabis farm was fully functioning with 22 plants and growing equipment.

Police found evidence of low level dealing using mobile phones which were found in the property.

Walker, of Tankerville Street, Hartlepool, admitted attempting to facilitate a child sex offence, three charges of making indecent images of children, and producing a class B drug.

Stephen Constantine, defending, said Walker accepted he found the images arousing, but he had only attempted to facilitate a child sex offence, rather than doing so.

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Judge Stephen Ashurst jailed Walker for four years and six months.

The judge told him: “It is clear from the disgusting nature of the Skype conversation you have distorted views on children, finding them sexually desirable.

“I accept this was a single conversation, and there is no evidence of you following it through.

“The images are also a serious matter, depicting children as young as three months and newborns being abused by adults.”

Walker must register as a sex offender for life, and he was made the subject of a lifelong order restricting his internet use and unsupervised contact with children.