A 73-YEAR-OLD Dawlish pensioner with an addiction to sexual interest in children has been jailed today.
Stephen Clark admitted inciting a seven year old girl to engage in sexual activity not involving penetration in March 2024 after communicating with another adult who was thought to be the child's parent called Dirty Bernadette.
Exeter Crown Court heard retired South West Water worker Clark also downloaded 411 indecent photos of children including 147 of the most serious kind involving children as young as two years of age.
Paedophile Clark, of Luscombe Terrace, Dawlish, also pleaded guilty to attempting to engage in sexual communication with a 14 year old girl and distributing 21 indecent images.
At Exeter Crown Court today Clark was jailed for 40 months.
The court heard Clark, who has previous convictions for similar offences, was guilty of ‘very serious and disgusting offences’.
His barrister Tom Faulkner said Clark has an addiction and interest in children.
He said his offending came from isolation and loneliness following his retirement when he began offending in 2014 and lost his marriage and family.
‘He is ashamed and remorseful,’ said Mr Faulkner.
Judge David Evans said Clark has an ‘online addiction and sexual interest in children’.
He said the pensioner has a high risk of causing serious harm in the future and gave him an extended sentence of five years.
He will serve two thirds of the 40 months before the Parole Board will decide if he can be released.
If so, he will then be on the extended sentence and will be on a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.