A sexual predator Burtonwood paedophile, Craig Stewart, who solicited young girls to transmit sexually obscene photographs is now incarcerated.
Craig Stewart, residing on Clay Lane in Burtonwood, received a sentence of three years and four months in jail at Liverpool Crown Court on September 14 after admitting to many sexual crimes.
The court was informed of the suspicions of the 33-year-old’s conduct during a British Transport Police inquiry in July 2016 concerning the exploitation of a 15-year-old girl.
Upon inspecting the victim’s phone, detectives discovered a sequence of communications between her and Craig Stewart.
Craig Stewart was subsequently apprehended in September 2016.
The defendant, under the pseudonym John Edwards, transmitted messages to several young females, soliciting them to send intimate photographs of themselves.
Craig Stewart employed images of unidentified adolescent males to coerce his unknowing victims into transmitting intimate photographs of themselves.
He also endeavoured to meet with his victims, who were dispersed across the country, although this never came to fruition.
Craig Stewart admitted guilt to five charges of causing or inciting child prostitution or pornography, eight charges of producing obscene photos of a child, and one charge of causing or encouraging a child under 13 to participate in sexual behaviour.
District of Columbia Olly Saunders of the British Transport Police stated, “Craig Stewart employed the pseudonym of a young boy to manipulate the girls.”
“He systematically exploited several young girls for his own sexual gratification over time.” The measures he employed to entice his victims into divulging highly personal images were reprehensible.
Craig Stewart was fully aware that the girls with whom he was conversing were under the age of 16.
“Upon examining his mobile phone and laptop, we discovered approximately 120 indecent images and videos of children.”
Judge Anil Murray issued a sexual harm prevention order to Stewart.
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