Knottingley man jailed for child sex offences

A Knottingley man has been jailed after being convicted for trying to arrange to sexually abuse a child.

Steven Byrne, 32, from Elm Place, Knottingley was sentenced to four years in prison with four years extended licence at Leeds Crown Court today after pleading guilty to trying to facilitate a child sex offence and indecent imagery offences.

Byrne was arrested in June after officers became aware of his use of a social media application to speak with another adult about sexually abusing a young child.

After reviewing the conversations in which he attempted to arrange a rendezvous regarding the discussions, officers took the decision to arrest him at the earliest opportunity.

Subsequent searches of computer equipment and storage media he had access to revealed a number of Class A, B and C indecent images.

Following investigation he was charged and pleaded guilty to assisting and or facilitating the commission of a child sexual offence and distributing indecent images of children.

Specialist child protection officers who investigated the case were awarded Judges Commendations for their work.