A MAN from Wokingham has been jailed for seven years after pleading guilty to engaging in sexual activity with a child.
Owen Critchley, 27, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, breaching a sex offender’s notification requirement, breaching a sex offences prevention order, blackmail and fraud by false representation.
In addition to his sentence, he also received an additional sexual harm prevention order, and will be subject to a sex offenders’ notification requirement for life.
Thames Valley Police (TVP) said that between December 14, 2016, and January 28 this year, Critchley was involved in inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and subsequently a breach of a sex offences prevention order.
After a period of befriending the victim, a teenage boy, he requested an intimate photograph in return for payment.
Critchley managed to blackmail and then defraud another victim, a man, of £2500 through false representation.
Critchley was charged with the offences, which are not connected, on February 14 this year.
Investigating officer Detective Constable Jonathan Morley, from Reading Force CID, said: “Following a thorough investigation, Critchley has been sentenced to a significant custodial sentence to reflect upon his actions.
“I am pleased that Critchley has received a lengthy prison sentence for these offences, and I hope that it serves as a deterrent to others of the consequences you could face for these types of crime.
“I am also grateful to the court for granting a sexual harm prevention order which will restrict Critchley’s ability to perpetrate this type of offence again, by prohibiting his use of social media and instant messaging platforms.”