Black Country pensioner jailed for arranging sexual activity with boy, 14

A BLACK Country pensioner who tried to meet up with a 14-year-old boy with a view to abusing him has been jailed.

John Harrison, aged 74, has been sentenced to two-and-a-half years behind bars after admitting making and possessing indecent images of children and arranging sexual activity with a child.

Officers from the National Crime Agency began investigating Harrison, from Tipton, after identifying he was exchanging indecent images of children on a social media platform.

He was arrested in February 2021 and had a number of devices seized before he was released on bail.

While the NCA investigation was ongoing, new intelligence showed Harrison was offending again - engaging with a 14-year-old boy on the same social media platform.

Officers found messages suggesting he was attempting to arrange sexual activity with the child. Indecent images of children in categories A to C were also discovered on his devices. Investigators found 482 category A images, 960 category B images and 2,330 category C images.

Harrison was arrested again and charged with offences including making indecent images of children, possession of prohibited or extreme images and arranging sexual activity with a child.

He pleaded guilty at Birmingham Crown Court in March 2023 and was sentenced at the same court on Wednesday June 26 to 30 months imprisonment.

Harrison was already on the sex offenders register after being convicted in 2014 for making and possessing indecent images of children.

Danielle Pownall, operations manager at the NCA, said: “John Harrison is a prolific offender, pursuing contact with children and continuing his offending even after he had been arrested.

“The images Harrison had been viewing and swapping with others all contain a vulnerable child who has been abused for criminals like him.

“The NCA is committed to protecting children and ensuring those who seek this material are brought to justice.”