Calin Rus

Calin Rus, a 47-year-old man from Hatfield, Hertfordshire, was sentenced at St Albans Crown Court on 23 January 2026 to a total of four years and eight months' imprisonment for multiple child sex offences. He had previously pleaded guilty on 16 September 2025 to three charges: attempting to arrange or facilitate sexual activity with a child under 13, being in possession and distributing an indecent image of a child, and attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child.

The case came to light through intelligence shared by the National Crime Agency with Hertfordshire Constabulary’s Child Online Safeguarding Team. Investigations revealed that Rus, using a Snapchat account, had uploaded child sexual abuse material. He arranged to watch a live-streamed sexual abuse of what he believed to be a 10-year-old girl, though in reality, he was interacting with an adult decoy. Rus was arrested on 14 August 2025 at a commercial premises on Market Place in Hatfield and remanded into custody the following day.

HHJ Johnson imposed concurrent custodial sentences for all counts, totalling four years and eight months. Upon release, Rus will be subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order. Investigator Julia Stone from Hertfordshire Constabulary commented on the case, stating: “Rus discussed in very graphic terms the sexual abuse of a 10-year-old child and attempted to minimise his behaviour by describing it as fantasy.” She further highlighted the coordinated efforts of law enforcement: “In a well-coordinated joint approach with other law enforcement agencies, the Child Online Safeguarding Team were able to quickly locate Rus and arrest him just as he was preparing to watch the abuse live.”

The offences underscore the dangers of online platforms in facilitating child sexual exploitation, with Rus's actions involving graphic discussions and attempts to view live abuse, causing significant harm to victims and straining safeguarding systems.