Christopher Rowe: Nottinghamshire paedophile jailed for messaging decoy he thought was a child

A Nottinghamshire paedophile who believed he was sending sexual photos to a 13-year-old girl has been jailed.

Christopher Rowe was instead sending explicit messages, images and videos to an adult member of an online activist group.

The 29-year-old was told of the alleged victim’s age and tried to solicit sexually explicit photos in return.

He was arrested at an address in Styrrup, near Harworth in Nottinghamshire, in April 2021.

Rowe, of Pringle Road, Brinsworth in Rotherham, later admitted to attempting to engage in sexual communications with a child, attempting to incite a girl to engage in sexual activity and attempting to cause a child to look at an image of sexual activity.

He was jailed for three years and four months after appearing at Nottingham Crown Court on July 11.

‘Significant risk’

Rowe was added to the sex offenders’ register for life and will be subject to a sexual harm prevention order that will limit his online activity.

Det Con Keeley Bringhurst said: “Rowe clearly believed he was in contact with a child when he sent a series of sexually explicit images and messages via social media.

“Worse still, he tried to persuade that child to send him images in return and engage in sexual activity.

“He very clearly poses a significant risk to the welfare of vulnerable young people and I am pleased he has now been jailed for these offences.”