A Sandown man has been sentenced to eight years in prison for online child sex offences perpetrated against children in the UK and the USA.
35-year-old Joshua Pelling was found guilty of more than 20 offences and possession of Class B drugs with intent to supply.
Pelling initially denied any involvement in the abuse, but came clean after the overwhelming evidence was put to him and he was charged with 21 offences.
Appearing at Isle of Wight Crown Court on 31 October 2022, he pleaded guilty to:
THREE counts of making indecent images of children
FIVE counts of taking indecent images of children
SIX counts of engaging in sexual communication with a child
THREE counts of causing or inciting a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity
FOUR counts of causing or inciting a girl aged 13-15 to engage in sexual activity.
At a hearing on December 20, he also pleaded guilty to further charges of breaching a Sexual Risk Order, as well as possessing cannabis with intent to supply.
This follows a visit by police to his address on December 18 after receiving information about drug use at the address.
Cannabis with an estimated street value of £3,100 was seized by officers, along with £680 in cash.
Messages found on Pelling’s phone supported the fact he was supplying the cannabis.
Pelling appeared at IW Crown Court again today (Thursday) where he was sentenced to 8 years in prison with an additional two years extended license.
DC Martin Timmis, who led the investigation, said:
“The level of depravity that Pelling reached to torment these poor children for his own sick gratification is utterly despicable.
“The tasks these girls were forced to perform were shocking and degrading, and has understandably traumatised them.
“Pelling is evil and twisted and belongs in prison. The lives of children have been shattered by his actions, and an innocent man was brought into custody as a result of Pelling’s warped deflection tactics.
“These young girls have shown immense bravery by reporting this abuse to the authorities."