A man from Crewe has been jailed for a number of serious online child sexual offences.

Rory Need appeared at Chester Crown Court on Monday 21 September where he was sentenced to six years and six months.

The 37-year-old, of Rimsdale Close, Wistaston, was earlier found guilty of possessing indecent images of children, making indecent images of children and distributing indecent images of children.

He was also found guilty of causing a child to look at images of sexual activity, causing a child to engage in sexual activity, and engaging in sexual communication with a child, following a three-day trial.

Cheshire Police arrested Need in March 2024 after officers received information from Dyfed-Powys Police relating to a Snapchat account which had been engaging in sexual communications with a nine-year-old girl.

The account was linked to Need.

His devices were seized and several of indecent images of children were recovered.

Need was ultimately charged with multiple offences.

On top of his custodial sentence, he must sign the Sex Offender Register indefinitely and is subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Detective Constable, Faye Taylor, said: "Need is clearly a danger to children and has rightly been handed a prison sentence that reflects the severity of his crimes.

"He was well aware that his victim was underage, and as a 37-year-old man he knew what he was doing was wrong, but despite this he continued to cause significant harm.

"Through the use of social media, he specifically targeted a 9-year-old girl, plying her with sexualised messages and indecent images in order to fulfil his own sexual desires.

"Thankfully, as a result of the evidence we gathered, he has now been held accountable for his actions and will no longer be able to pose a threat to other children."

To report any sexual offence call Cheshire Constabulary on 101 or visit the website. Always call 999 in an emergency.

Information can also be passed anonymously, via Crimestoppers, on 0800 555 111.

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