Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
CHILD IMAGES TEEN AVOIDS PRISON
Pervert tricked boys into sending indecent pictures
A NORTHERN Ireland teenager who tricked boys into sending indecent images of themselves walked free from court yesterday.
Owen Mounsey, of Holywood, Co Down, admitted having 822 child abuse images and a “paedophile manual”.
The 18-year-old was given two years probation and 100 hours community service at Belfast Crown Court.
A NORTHERN Ireland teen tricked schoolboys into sending indecent pictures of themselves by promising them computer game credits.
But Owen Mounsey, who also said he could help the youngsters with gym routines, avoided jail yesterday.
He was caught with a manual on grooming kids as well as 822 indecent images when police and crime agency officers raided his home in Holywood , Co Down, in 2016.
Mounsey, now 18, was handed two years probation and 100 hours’ community service at Belfast Crown Court.
He must also sign the sex offenders register for five years.
Rob Burgess, National Crime Agency head of operations for Scotland and Northern Ireland, said: “Owen Mounsey’s relatively young age may shock some people but it means he has been detected early and is on the radar of law enforcement.
“The NCA and PSNI have the skills, dedication and technical capability to detect and bring to justice offenders viewing, sharing or producing indecent images of children. And it is of paramount importance to the NCA and PSNI to look after victims and ensure they are supported and protected.”
The teenager admitted a series of charges including the possession of a paedophile manual, causing a boy under 13 to watch a sexual act, inciting two boys to engage in sexual activity and distributing and making an indecent picture of a child.
NCA said Mounsey would ask for pictures of his victims in various states of undress, sometimes offering video game credits in return and in one case using the pretence it would help him advise them on their gym routines.
The investigation found no evidence of him committing contact abuse against any children.
NCA said both they and the PSNI had identified his victims and taken action to ensure they are supported and protected.
Soon to be 19, Mounsey carried out the offences against the 11-year-old and 12-year-old when he was 16.
He was arrested in a joint operation with the PSNI in 2016, when his mobile phone, computer and two USB sticks were seized.
Almost a third of the 822 images forensic analysts found on the devices were in the most serious category.
NCA said the teenager had downloaded images and paedophile manuals from the net but had also solicited images from the boys on social media.
PSNI Chief Inspector Stephen Wilson added: “This joint operation with the NCA is a further illustration of our determination to tackle all forms of child sexual abuse by working together to ensure we can protect children and apprehend offenders.
“Our message to those who continue to exploit children online is very clear.
“You leave a digital footprint when you are downloading, viewing, making indecent images of children and both the PSNI and NCA have the capacity, capability and determination to catch and bring you to justice.”
NCA said in a statement the teen must take part in work programmes, assessments and programmes to address his offending behaviour.