Five years behind bars for Walsall man who travelled nearly 90 miles to abuse 11-year-old child

Jamie Macpherson, from Walsall, was arrested after travelling to Bedford with the intention of sexually abusing an 11-year-old child.

The 46-year-old was arrested as soon as he arrived in Bedford – and was found in possession of two hard drives containing large amounts of indecent images of children, including the most severe category A.

Macpherson’s plans to travel to Bedford had been uncovered as a result of a proactive operation by the Eastern Region Special Operations Unit.

Once he was arrested, the investigation team worked closely with digital media investigators, who secured evidence from the hard drives in his possession.

Macpherson pleaded guilty to facilitating and arranging the commission of a child sexual offence, possession to show or distribute indecent images of children, and possession of indecent images of children.

'Abhorrent'

He also pleaded guilty to distributing indecent images of children, in relation to offences committed in the West Midlands.

He was sentenced to five years in prison – with three years for the Bedfordshire offences and a further two years, to run consecutively, for the West Midlands offences.

He was also served with an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order at Luton Crown Court on Thursday, January 21.

Investigation Officer Paul Baddeley, from Bedfordshire Police’s Cyber Hub, said Macpherson was an extremely dangerous offender who had travelled a long way with a clear intent of sexual abuse.

He said: "Thanks to close collaboration with our colleagues at West Midlands Police and the Eastern Region Special Operations Unit, this horrific offender will be locked up away from our communities and children he could pose a risk to."

"Following his arrest, he was found in possession of huge amounts of indecent images of children.

"Some of these have been described as some of the worst and most abhorrent child sexual abuse material the investigation team have ever seen."