Man put face of teen onto AI-generated naked woman

Craig Arrowsmith, 48, from Salisbury has been sentenced

A 48-year-old man who was trying to groom a teenage girl superimposed her face on to an AI-generated female's naked body, a sentencing hearing was told.

Craig Arrowsmith, of Hoadley Green in Salisbury, knew his victim was 15, but messaged her repeatedly on social media, and was arrested after her school raised concerns.

He was given a suspended 12-month prison term at Salisbury Crown Court on 1 September after admitting offences including sexual communication with a child.

Det Con Louise Butler from Wiltshire Police praised the bravery of the victim, saying: "Her courage in speaking with us and giving a video-recorded interview has led to Arrowsmith being sentenced."

In January 2024, police received a referral from the victim's school with concerns about inappropriate messages from Arrowsmith.

He was arrested and bailed. His phone showed that between March 2024 and January 2024, he had been messaging the teenager via social media, many of the messages sexual in nature.

Four videos with bestiality were found on the phone along with 245 indecent images, all of which related to superimposed photos of the victim.

He had been using AI and the victim's face to create the pictures, something Det Con Butler described as "abhorrent".

Arrowsmith pleased guilty to sexual communication with a child, making indecent images of children and four counts of possession of extreme pornography.

He was jailed for 12 months, suspended for 18 months, and will have to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work.

His sentencing included 35 rehabilitation days, paying £500 compensation and being on the sex offenders register for a decade.