A PHOTOGRAPHY firm owner from Cumbria who attempted to incite a child into sexual activity online has been jailed.

Malcolm Porter, aged 24, was sentenced to 28 months imprisonment today (6th July) at Carlisle Crown Court.

He was sentenced for the following offences:

· Nine counts of making indecent photograph / pseudo-photograph of a child.

· Five counts of distributing indecent photograph / pseudo-photograph of a child.

· Attempt to cause/incite a child under 16 into sexual activity.

Porter’s offending came to light following a referral from another police force in September 2015 about a child who had engaged in online conversation with Porter.

Following his arrest, the Constabulary’s Digital Media Investigation Unit seized devices belonging to Porter and found that between 2013 and 2015 he had been accessing indecent images of children. Porter would then share indecent images via social media apps and online chatrooms.

Evidence was also found of Porter using his photography company to engage with children and offer them money for indecent images.

Porter, of Roseberry Road in Carlisle, has been placed on the sexual offender register and received a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

Detective Constable Carolyn Willacy, Digital Media Investigation Unit, said: “Porter would use his own photography business to meet children and attempt to entice them into sharing indecent images with him.

“In total Porter’s devices held over 1,500 indecent images of children which he would share with people for mutual sexual gratification.

“We will continue to prosecute those who abuse children by engaging in this sort of behaviour.

“It is important that young people realise the dangers that lurk online as there are people out there who are intent on exploiting children.

“We encourage anyone who has any suspicions of any sort of abuse to contact us so we can investigate."