A Melksham man has been handed a suspended prison sentence for attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child online.

53-year-old Ieuan Watkins, from Coronation Road in Melksham, used an online profile to engage in sexual communication with an individual he thought was a 12-year-old girl three times between April and June, 2021.

He asked the individual to instruct him to perform sexual acts which he planned to record and share with them. He also sent a video exposing his genitals.

Watkins appeared at Salisbury Crown Court on Friday, January 27, after police identified and arrested him in September.

He pleaded guilty to attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and indecent exposure, and received a ten month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months.

Watkins was also ordered to carry out 80 hours of unpaid work, register as a sex offender for seven years and is subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

DS Jason Walsh, of the Wiltshire Police Child Internet Exploitation Team, said: “This is a disturbing case in which Watkins admitted that he thought he was speaking to a 12-year-old girl. The images and videos he sent are extremely concerning.

“This case highlights the proactive work that is constantly ongoing to identify offenders who have the potential to cause harm within our communities.”