Ionut Voicu

Ionut Voicu, a 36-year-old resident of Taunton, Somerset, has been jailed for three years and four months following an appeal against his initial lenient sentence for multiple sexual offences involving what he believed to be a child.

Voicu admitted to eight offences at Taunton Crown Court on 14 May 2021. These included five counts of causing a child to watch or look at an image of sexual activity, two counts of having sexual communication with a child, and one count of attempting to arrange or facilitate a child sex offence. Initially, in May 2021, he avoided a custodial sentence and was instead given a three-year community order, which required him to attend an offender treatment programme and complete 40 hours of unpaid work. He was also subjected to a five-year sexual harm prevention order.

The original sentence drew significant criticism, leading the Solicitor General, Lucy Frazer, to refer the case to the Court of Appeal. Frazer expressed her dismay, stating: 'I was appalled by Voicu's intentions and it was only thanks to the vigilance of our police that his criminality did not extend further. I welcome the decision of the Court of Appeal to increase his sentence to properly reflect the severity of his actions.' On Thursday, prior to the publication of this article in July 2021, the Court of Appeal judges ruled that the initial sentence was unduly lenient and imposed the custodial term of three years and four months, alongside the existing sexual harm prevention order.

The offences stemmed from Voicu's online communications where he engaged in sexual discussions with an individual he thought was a 13-year-old girl, with the explicit intention of meeting for sexual activity. Avon and Somerset Police conducted an undercover operation, leading to his arrest when he attempted to meet the 'girl'. This case highlights the role of proactive policing in preventing potential child sexual exploitation, as reported by the BBC based on court records and statements from the Solicitor General's office.