Wiltshire man sentenced for child sex offences

A 36-year-old man from Wiltshire has been jailed having pleaded guilty to numerous child sex offences and possession of cocaine.

Christopher Saunders-Pope of Randalls Croft Road in Wilton was sentenced to three years and four months by HH Judge Townsend at Swindon Crown Court today (28 May) following an investigation by the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit (SWROCU).

Saunders-Pope was arrested by SWROCU officers in March 2024 after he had been communicating online with who he thought was a teenage boy. He travelled within the county intending to meet the child to sexually abuse. Instead, he was met by officers from the Unit and arrested.

In April this year he pleaded guilty to the following offences:

• Attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child 

• Arranging / facilitating commission of offence of sexual activity with a child 

• Making indecent photograph / pseudo photograph of a child (three counts)  

• Distributing an indecent photograph / pseudo photograph of a child 

• Possessing extreme pornographic image 

• Possessing a class A drug (cocaine) 

Detective Inspector David Wells from SWROCU said:

“When we arrested Saunders-Pope, he had travelled that day having made plans to abuse a young boy. Instead, he was taken into custody and prevented from causing the harm he intended. 

“Law enforcement agencies are constantly across the internet working to identify anyone looking to abuse or exploit children. Saunders-Pope's arrest was part of this ongoing work.”

HH Judge Townsend also handed Saunders-Pope a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

If you are concerned about your thoughts or behaviour towards children or the behaviour of another person, you can seek help via the Stop it Now confidential helpline on 0808 1000 900. Further support is available from the Lucy Faithfull Foundation.