Josh Varley

Josh Varley, a 30-year-old man from York, was sentenced at York Magistrates' Court for attempting sexual communication with a child and possessing indecent images of children. The case arose from a police sting operation where officers created a decoy social media profile pretending to be a 12-year-old boy.

Between 23 May and 12 June, Varley engaged in sexual chats with the profile, sending a sexual image of himself and repeatedly requesting sexual selfies from the supposed boy. Kaye Barnard, prosecuting, detailed how Varley held these conversations for three weeks, unaware that the profile was operated by a police officer. No actual child was involved in the communications.

Varley was arrested on 23 November following the sting. Police seized his mobile phone and discovered 259 indecent images of children, including 53 of the most serious Category A, 95 of Category B, and 111 of Category C. Varley, of Blatchford Mews in Clifton, York, pleaded guilty to the charges.

During the hearing, Deputy District Judge Imran Hussain described child abuse as 'evil, it is abhorrent and cruel and this is part of it,' addressing Varley who cried in the dock. The judge imposed a 12-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, on condition that Varley complete a rehabilitation programme for sex offenders, 10 days of rehabilitative activities, and 60 hours of unpaid work. Varley was also ordered to pay a £187 statutory surcharge and £85 in prosecution costs. He will be required to register as a sex offender and is subject to a sexual harm prevention order to restrict his online activities and protect children.

Defence solicitor Byron Chatzis highlighted Varley's remorse, noting his work with the Lucy Faithfull Foundation since his arrest two years prior. Varley had no previous convictions and had not reoffended. Chatzis explained that Varley's interest in adult pornography contributed to accessing the images, and he had endured a broken marriage but received family support in court.

The case was reported by the York Press, with prosecution details from Kaye Barnard and judicial remarks from Deputy District Judge Imran Hussain.