Man sentenced following sexual communication with a child offences

A former teaching assistant from Stoke-on-Trent has been sentenced after being found guilty of sexual communication with a child offences. 

Louis Colby, 22, of Meir Park, Stoke-on-Trent was sentenced at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court on November 2.

Colby was convicted of sexual communication with a child and three counts of attempted sexual communication with a child. These offences took place between July 2019 – October 2019.

The 22-year-old was given a 12-month suspended sentence for two years and ordered to complete a Rehabilitation Activity Requirement for 55 days, including 150 hours of unpaid work. Colby has also been given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for five years, notification requirements for ten years and ordered to pay costs of £425.

PC Daniel Edwards of Staffordshire Police, said: “We welcome the sentence handed down today by the Crown Court in this matter which reflects the seriousness of the offences committed and that this type of behaviour will not be tolerated, and is taken extremely seriously in Staffordshire.

“We are thankful to the victim and their parents who recognised the signs of this completely inappropriate behaviour by a person who was, concerning working with young persons at the time of these offences. Their support helped secure the conviction.”

Anyone concerned about children receiving inappropriate content online or potentially being exploited via social media to report it to police on 101, digital 101 or 999 in an emergency.