Pensioner given suspended sentence for child sex offences

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 21 Oct, 11:58 · Archive

A 70-year-old man has received a three-year suspended prison sentence after pleading guilty to seven child sex offences.

Archie Rawlings, aged 70, of Lavington Close in Burbage, pleaded guilty to seven serious child sex offences. In October 2023, he sexted a 14-year-old child online and arranged to meet them for sex. The court heard that he was found in possession of 'extreme' pornography depicting an act likely to cause serious injury.

Officers from the Paedophile Online Investigation Team (POLIT) arrested Rawlings at his home in December after seizing his electronic devices. Forensic examination revealed further sexual communication with other children and evidence that he had arranged to meet others for sexual activity.

Rawlings has been sentenced to three years in prison, suspended for three years. This means he will only have to serve the sentence if he is caught reoffending before 2029. He has also been given a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order and placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely.

Detective Sergeant Jason Walsh said: 'We remain committed to identifying those who seek to harm children, bringing them before the courts and safeguarding young people from abuse. Through extensive digital forensic enquiries, investigators uncovered further evidence of Rawlings' offending against multiple children, ensuring that he was held accountable for the full extent of his crimes.'

How it is being reported

• Pensioner, 70, avoids jail after arranging to meet 14-year-old child for sexA 70-year-old pensioner has avoided jail after arranging to meet a 14-year-old child for sex.Gazette & Herald · 21 Oct, 11:42
• Pensioner, 70, avoids jail after arranging to meet 14-year-old child for sexA 70-year-old pensioner has avoided jail after arranging to meet a 14-year-old child for sex.Swindon Advertiser · 21 Oct, 11:42
• Pensioner, 70, avoids jail after arranging to meet 14-year-old child for sexA 70-year-old pensioner has avoided jail after arranging to meet a 14-year-old child for sex.Wiltshire Times · 21 Oct, 11:42

In this story: Archie Rawlings · Burbage · Paedophile Online Investigation Team (POLIT)

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