Man who asked underage boy for sex on Snapchat jailed

A man from Stoke-on-Trent who asked an underage boy on Snapchat for sex has been jailed.

Jack Box, 22, of Fenton, Stoke-on-Trent, was sentenced to two-and-a-half-years in prison at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court on Wednesday (30 October) after he previously admitted engaging in sexual communication with a child and distributing an indecent photograph or pseudo-photograph of a child.

We arrested him after the victim, a teenage boy, came forward and told an adult what happened on 2 December 2022.

Box messaged the boy asking about what he looked like. Box then further messaged the boy and asked him for sex.

The boy blocked Box’s account after this and told someone about the messages.

We seized Box’s phone and found indecent images of children on it.

As part of his sentencing, Box was also put on the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years.

DC Gillian Allen, who dealt with the case, said: “I’d like to recognise the bravery shown by the boy to tell someone about Box and to help support this conviction through the court process.

“It’s absolutely crucial that sex offenders who use social media to approach, groom and abuse their victims are brought to justice, and this can only be done if survivors feel they’re able to come forward in confidence in these circumstances.”