Man from Manchester jailed for online child sex offences

Yesterday (Thursday 11 June) at Manchester Crown Court, a man from Manchester was sentenced for multiple online child sex offences.

Rhys Meikle, 31, of no fixed abode, was jailed for four years after pleading guilty to arranging or facilitating the commission of child sexual offence and making and distributing indecent images of children. He also received an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order and was placed on the Sex Offenders Register indefinitely.

At the same hearing, Meikle received a further four-year sentence after being found guilty of drugs offences, following a separate GMP investigation.

In May 2024, NWROCU detectives executed a search warrant at Meikle’s home address in Openshaw, Manchester, after receiving intelligence that indecent images of children had been shared online. Miekle was arrested and his devices were seized for examination. 

While on bail, in February 2025, Miekle reoffended by engaging with an individual online. During the interactions, he shared Category A indecent images and videos of children and attempted to arrange the sexual abuse of children. He also indicated his intention to obtain further indecent images for financial gain.

Following further enquiries, officers identified this activity and arrested Meikle again.

In interview, Miekle claimed that he had no intention of committing child sex offences and said he was attempting to catch sex offenders online, asserting that he possessed indecent images because he intended to use them as part of his role as a ‘paedophile hunter.’

Detective Constable Adam Cronshaw from the NWROCU’s Internet Child Abuse Team said,

‘Meikle was operating as a prolific paedophile online, distributing and trading the most abhorrent child sexual abuse material with other sex offenders.

“He also attempted to arrange the abuse of young children so he could obtain first generation images to sell on a website. His claim of being a paedophile hunter was not credible and is believed to be a cover story if case he was ever caught.

“There is no legal justification for possessing or distributing indecent images of children, even for legitimate online child abuse hunter groups. Behind every image and video shared by Meikle is a child victim of sexual abuse. His sentence will hopefully serve as a warning to other sex offenders that law enforcement agencies around the world are relentlessly working together to catch online predators.”

Detective Sergeant Chee Chan from GMP’s Response Police Unit D Relief said:

“Meikle has been identified as a dangerous individual who ran a drug dealing operation while also distributing and trading child sexual abuse material for financial gain. In an attempt to evade justice, he falsely portrayed himself as a ‘paedophile hunter’ despite the overwhelming evidence against him.

“This joint investigation by Greater Manchester Police and the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit (NWROCU) has resulted in Meikle being brought before the courts and sentenced. His imprisonment removes a significant threat from our communities, safeguarding children and protecting the public from further harm.”