Boxted man jailed for child sex offences

Colin Hodgson has been jailed for seven years and 10 months for a number of child sex offences. Picture: ESSEX POLICE (Image: Archant)

Colin Hodgson, 61, of Newman Drive, appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court on Friday, January 5, after pleading guilty to five counts of sexual assault on a child under 13, three counts of causing or inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity and three counts of making indecent images of a child.

On Tuesday, November 7, at 5.55pm, police carried out a warrant at Hodgson’s home after he accessed indecent images on the internet.

Officers seized computers and devices and found images and videos involving under age children.

He was then arrested when a second warrant was executed on Friday, December 1.

He received 42 months in prison for each sexual assault on a child, three six-year and six-month sentences for causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, to run concurrently and two 12-month sentences for the making indecent images, all to run concurrently.

Hodgson, who previously pleaded guilty to the offences on Wednesday, January 3, and has been given an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order, was also given a 16-month sentence for making indecent images, to run consecutively.

Dc Bethany Beeton, investigating officer, said: “Tens of thousands of images and a number of videos were found on Hodgson’s devices with a large majority of them being category A, the most serious category.

“As the police online investigation team went through each image and video, it became clear Hodgson had photographed himself taking advantage of a child, sexually assaulted them and caused them to engage in sexual activity.

“Hodgson has shown no remorse for his actions and I believe our communities are safer places with him locked in a prison cell.”