A Hartlepool man has been put behind bars after he sent explicit videos of him committing sexual acts to someone he believed was a 14-year-old boy.

Jasonn Harrison, 54 of Kesteven Road, Hartlepool, has been sentenced to two years and seven months in prison and been put on an indefinite Sex Offenders Notice after he sent sexually explicit videos of himself and graphic sexual messages.

Whilst Harrison believed he was speaking to a teenager, he was instead speaking to officers from the North East Regional Organised Crime Unit (NEROCU) and Cleveland Police.

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Following his arrest in January 2022, Harrison appeared at Teesside Crown Court on Monday (October 23) for his sentencing.

This follows from August 11, where he plead guilty to arranging/facilitating the commission of a child sex offence, possession of extreme pornography and cause/incite a child under 16 to engage in sexual activity. 

Detective Inspector Leonard from NEROCU, : “When sex offenders operate online, they think they can hide their crimes, but this case shows the lengths officers will go to protect victims and bring offenders before the courts.

“This has been a long and thorough investigation by our team, and this result has meant a predator is now behind bars and potential victims have been prevented.

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“Online offending is sadly on the rise, but our investigative skills and evidence gathering are constantly evolving.

“We would always encourage anyone with information about this type of offending, or anyone who thinks they have been a victim to come forward and talk to police – you will be supported.”

“Under Operation Sentinel, our regional approach to tacking serious and organised crime, we will continue to investigate these online offences to safeguard children and protect the public. For those engaging in this type of behaviour, our message is simple- you will be caught, and you can expect a knock at the door from us.”