Deplorable sex predator who targeted schoolboys is locked up for almost five years

Ian Cheetham contacted children via social media channels and engaged in explicit sexual messages and activity with them until he was stopped in his tracks by West Midlands Police.

Detectives described his behaviour as "deplorable" and said they found evidence of him sharing images and videos with boys all aged under 15. He told them that he was a teenager himself as he took advantage of their vulnerabilities.

After police seized a number of devices he was also found to be in possession of more than 70 indecent photos.

Cheetham, aged 39, was convicted of engaging in sexual communication with a child, inciting sexual activity, causing a child to watch a sexual act and making indecent images between December 2021 and April 2023.

At a hearing at Birmingham Crown Court on November 4 he was sentenced to four years and eight months in prison. He will then be on extended licence for over four years.

Cheetham, of no fixed abode, was also made subject to an indefinite sexual harm prevention order.

Dc Louisa Scarlin, from the force's public protection unit, said: "Cheetham took advantage of young boys for his own sickening gratification as he preyed on their age and innocence.

"He lied he was a teenager himself to help build up conversations with them. There can be no justification for such deplorable behaviour."

Young people can become victims of various types of abuse on the internet through online games, social networking sites and apps they can access through devices like tablets, mobile phones and games consoles.

Advice on how to protect children while using online is available from the force at westmidlands.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/caa/child-abuse/online-child-abuse.