Child sex offender jailed over 'horrendous' photos

Ben Haymes, 34, possessed extreme pornography

Police have welcomed the jailing of a "dangerous" child sex offender who admitted assaulting a child and having "horrendous" indecent images of children.

At Truro Crown Court last Friday, Ben Haymes, 34, previously of Bodmin and Bude in Cornwall, was sentenced to four years and four months in prison, and a further four years on extended licence, after admitting 15 charges.

He also possessed extreme pornography, the court heard.

Devon and Cornwall Police said he was jailed after a "lengthy complex investigation".

'Dangerous sex offender'

Haymes was also made subject of a lifelong sexual harm prevention order.

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Offences he admitted included assaulting a boy under 13, seven making indecent images of children charges, two counts of possessing extreme pornography, voyeurism, two possessing a prohibited images of a child charges and two counts of showing an indecent photograph, police said.

The court heard police executed a search warrant in July 2019 at an address in Bude after receiving information an indecent image of a child had been uploaded to the internet by someone at the location.

Officers said a digital examination revealed a folder linked to Haymes contained hundreds of indecent images.

Haymes also possessed extreme pornography showing sex acts involving his own dog and messages in which Haymes stated his sexual intentions for children and animals.

Det Con Charlotte Norris, of Devon and Cornwall Police, said she "welcomed" the sentence after a "lengthy complex investigation".

She said: "Ben Haymes is a dangerous sex offender who was in possession of horrendous child abuse images of young children and spoke freely about his desires.

"I hope this case sends out a strong message to those committing child sex offences and viewing child abuse material that we will find them and bring them to justice."