A man has received a three-and-a-half-year sentence in prison after sending indecent images to an undercover police officer who he thought was a young girl.
Mark Appleby, 53, of Monmouth, was found guilty after trial of engaging in sexual communication with a child, causing or inciting a child to look at sexual activity and attempt to facilitate or commission a child sex offence.
He appeared at Cardiff Crown Court on Tuesday 1 August in relation to offences committed in November of last year.
Detective Constable Chloe Collins, the officer in the case, said:
“This sentence shows the severity of this defendant’s actions, even though they were committed online.
“Digitally-committed offences, like these, can have a devastating impact and perpetuates a demand for placing vulnerable people, such as young children, at risk of sexual violence or exploitation.
“This result was possible thanks to the hard work of our online investigation team, who work tirelessly every day to catch would-be criminals who make the web an unsafe place to be.”
Appleby received a sentence of three years and six months in prison and will remain on the sexual offenders register indefinitely.
He will also be subject to a sexual harm prevention order for a period of eight years.
