Man charged over child sex video online

POLICE investigating an indecent video of children being shared on Instagram have charged a man from Cheadle.

The 25-year-old has been charged with three counts of inciting a female aged 13-15 to engage in sexual activity, three counts of making an indecent photograph of a child and one count of distributing an indecent photograph of a child.

The investigation is focusing on a video featuring indecent images of two children which has been shared on online photo-sharing app Instagram and viewed across the UK.

Police and teachers have warned parents to check their children’s phones for the ‘disturbing video’ - which was shared from a fake social media account and contains ‘very explicit sexual imagery’.

A secondary school in Bristol sent a text to all parents warning them the video was circulating on social media. The school’s message said children from other schools in Bristol had already been sent the video.

In their text, the school wrote: “Dear parent/ carer, it has come to our attention that a film containing very explicit sexual imagery involving children NOT KNOWN TO THE SCHOOL has been circulation among our students and those in other schools in the city today. Please check your child’s phone. We understand it is via Instagram.”

The accused man appeared at West Hampshire Magistrates’ Court in Southampton last Wednesday and entered no pleas to the charges.

The man was remanded in custody and his case was adjourned until January 8, when he is due to re-appear at Southampton Crown Court.

The charging of the man was announced by Hampshire Constabulary, whose officers are investigating ‘sexual offences committed online’, according to a statement released by the force.

The video has been shared across the UK, according to Hampshire Constabulary.