Swale child sex offender jailed for six years

Ben Murphy targeted children online and in Sittingbourne

A sex offender who targeted children online and in Sittingbourne has been jailed for six years.

Ben Murphy, 31, of Raite Green in the Kent town, was convicted of a total of 16 offences involving children between 2018 and February this year.

At Maidstone Crown Court on Tuesday, he was sentenced to six years imprisonment.

Kent Police's Det Con Deniz Aslan said: "Murphy is a depraved individual who poses a considerable risk to young children in person or online."

Murphy, who will have to serve a further two years on licence following his release, was sentenced for offences including inciting a child to engage in a sexual act, possessing indecent images of children and blackmail.

According to Kent Police, Murphy had approached children in a park in Sittingbourne, as well as on social media platforms.

Online, he asked his victims to send images of themselves, some in their underwear and others carrying out sexual acts.

In one conversation he incited a child to abuse their two-month old relative, and offered to pay her £1,000.

Murphy also sent indecent images and videos of himself to the victims and asked for private calls so he could further engage in sexual abuse.

He will have to sign the sex offenders register and will be subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for life.