A South Cheshire man who groomed young teenage boys across the UK on the internet, has been jailed for two years.
David Lawrence (pictured), 57, of Middlewich Street, Crewe, pleaded guilty to 21 charges ranging from engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child, causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, to possessing, making and distributing indecent images.
Another 27 offences were taken into consideration.
The offences were against 10 teenage boys aged 14 to 15 between 2008 and 2009. Two of the victims were from Cheshire, one from Warrington and a second from Chester.
Lawrence, sentenced today (September 5) at Chester Crown Court, was also made subject of a Sex Offender Prevention Order and ordered to sign the Sex Offender Register for 10 years.
He was arrested in July 2009 after the concerned family of a 15-year-old boy from Warrington contacted Cheshire Police.
They had witnessed Lawrence perform a sex act via web cam. Police officers called to their house also witnessed it.
Police recovered two computers and two CDs from Lawrence’s house containing 404 indecent images.
The computers also contained hundreds of chat logs and Operation Waste was launched as officers began trying to identify potential victims.
Nine of the ten victims were identified and contacted; one boy from Chester, one from Warrington, two from Leicester, two from Hertfordshire, one from Northumberland, one from Wiltshire and one from Devon.
Det Insp Chris Hemmingway, of the Public Protection Unit, said: “This has been a long and complicated investigation involving a number of vulnerable victims.
“Although there is no evidence to suggest Lawrence ever met up with any of the victims, it is clear from the chat logs he knew the boys he was engaging with over the internet were underage.
“Despite this he continued to befriend these vulnerable children for his own sexual gratification.
“I am sure there are more victims and I would urge anyone who thinks they may have been targeted by him to contact police.
“We have specially trained officers who can provide the help and support you may need, even if it is simply someone to talk to.”
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