A 32-YEAR-OLD man has been jailed for three years for possession and distribution of indecent images of children, and attempting to incite a nine-year-old child to engage in sexual activity.

Adam James Thomas, of Keighley Road, Colne, was arrested in January after police were alerted by an anonymous call to Crimestoppers, reporting that he was in possession of at least two indecent images of young children.

Preston Crown Court heard that detectives from Pennine CID seized several items from his parents’ address, which were later found to contain a number of indecent still images, an indecent video, and chat logs between Thomas and a number of other women.

A girl in one of the chat logs identified herself as a nine-year-old girl.

Detectives also identified a number of images and videos from those recovered that had been distributed to a number of the girls he would chat to, including the nine-year-old.

When interviewed, Thomas initially denied possession of anything indecent or sexual regarding children, but pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing.

In sentencing Thomas at Preston Crown Court, Judge Pamela Badley said the material seen by the police and herself was: “Filthy, it’s as simple as that.”

She continued to highlight to the defendant that by possessing and distributing such material he was engaging in the ‘worldwide trade in the sexual exploitation of children’.

Thomas was sentenced to 16 months for attempting to incite the girl to engage in sexual activity and 20 months in relation to the possession and distribution of the indecent images and video.

Both sentenced were ordered to be served consecutively.

Speaking after the sentence, DS Charlie Haynes, who led the investigation, said: “Thomas’ arrest and subsequent conviction follows the continued proactive targeting of sexual predators by Lancashire Constabulary.

“The possession and distribution of these images were clearly for his personal sexual gratification.

“The images and videos recovered include some of the worst I have ever seen.

“They include images of the most serious child pornography scale and it is reassuring that his behaviour has been addressed appropriately by the court.”

Judge Badley imposed a destruction order for the equipment seized by the police along with an indefinite Sexual Offences Prevention Order including registration requirements. Thomas was also banned from having any unsupervised contact with children under 16 years.