A man who imported an “anatomically correct” childlike sex doll from Asia has been sentenced in the first case of its kind in Essex.

Simon Glerum, 33, was arrested in January after Border Force officers intercepted a parcel from Hong Kong containing the 3ft 3ins doll at Stansted Airport.

The package was labelled as a mannequin and came with items including a body stocking.

The doll was “anatomically correct”, police said.

Essex Police officers arrested Glerum at his home in Bridge Street, Great Bardfield, near Braintree.

Items including computer equipment were seized. A laptop was found to contain 21 images or films of child abuse of Category A (the most serious); four of Category B; five of Category C; and eight prohibited images. These had been downloaded from the internet.

Officers also found a fictional story describing the sexual abuse of a child.

He appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court on August 23 and admitted importing the sex doll, three of making indecent images of a child and one count of possession of a prohibited image.

He was sentenced today to a 12 month suspended sentence for each of the five counts which will run concurrently, a five year sexual harm prevention order. He must complete a sex offender treatment programme and 20 days in rehabilitation.

The doll has been forfeited and will be destroyed.

Det Insp Neal Miller, of the crime and public protection command, said: “The importation of childlike sex dolls can be an indication of offences being committed against children, as in this case, where images of child abuse were found on Glerum’s computer.

“We will always investigate and deal with such cases robustly and have made a number of arrests. One is currently going through the courts.

“We work closely with Border Force, National Crime Agency and Crown Prosecution Service in our commitment to prevent the importation of these obscene items and to protect children from harm.”

Anyone with information on someone who has imported a childlike sex doll is asked to contact police on 101.

The Lucy Faithfull Foundation, which is the only UK-wide child protection charity focused solely on preventing child sexual abuse, offers support to adults concerned about their sexual thoughts and behaviour towards children.

Border Force’s Julian Doughty, Senior manager at the Fast Parcel Joint Border Intelligence Unit based at East Midlands Airport, said:

“Cases like this demonstrate just how vital Border Force officers’ work at Stansted and ports across the UK is.

“In this instance, by developing intelligence which led to the seizure and by linking with Essex Police, their actions have led directly to the uncovering of an individual who had committed other serious child sex offences.

“We will continue to work with law enforcement agencies to ensure that those attempting to import obscene items like this are brought to justice.”

Sarah Freeman, from the CPS, added: “Following the interception of the childlike sex doll, further serious offending was uncovered which was subsequently admitted by Simon Glerum.

“The close ongoing work between the CPS, the police and other law enforcement agencies is proving crucial to identifying and investigating this type of offending and bringing it before the courts.”

The Lucy Faithfull Foundation runs Stop it Now! – a child sexual abuse prevention campaign and helpline.

For more information on how Stop it Now! helps people address their online behaviour, visit the website or call the confidential Stop it Now! helpline on 0808 1000 900.