Sandown man jailed for attempting to meet an underage boy for sex and for sending sexual communications to children

A man from Sandown, Isle of Wight, who pleaded guilty to attempting to meet an underage boy for sex and sent sexual communications to 21 other children on social media platforms has been jailed today (6 May 2022) at Newport Crown Court.

Paul Elvins, aged 46, was jailed for four years and eight months having admitted to arranging or facilitating the commission of a child sex offence, two counts of sexual communication with a child, 17 counts of attempted sexual communication with a child, and attempting to pay for the sexual services of a child.

Elvins thought he was communicating with a 13-year-old boy and arranged to meet with him for sex, but it was actually an undercover police officer. When Elvins was arrested the police checked his phone and found evidence of other communications he had sent to 21 different children, all of whom were under 16 years of age.

Emma Lile, CPS Wessex Senior Crown Prosecutor, said: “We worked with Hampshire police officers from a very early stage in the investigation of this case to ensure we had all the evidence we needed to prove Elvins was guilty.

“As a result of this early engagement and our strong partnership working, Elvins admitted his guilt to all offences at the first opportunity.

“Thankfully, Elvins was caught by an undercover officer rather than meeting with a real 13-year-old boy, but that’s not to say that the other children Elvins contacted on social media will not have been deeply affected by his behaviour.

“We are committed to keeping children safe from those who seek to prey on them using the internet and social media platforms. Perpetrators should know that we will prosecute you whenever our legal test is met.”