Gavin West sentenced to four years in prison after attempting to meet a child for sex and possessing extreme pornographic material
A Horsham man who believed he was communicating with a 12-year-old girl online and attempted to meet her for sex has been jailed following a Sussex Police investigation.
Gavin West, 46, of Six Acres in Slinfold, was arrested in November 2023 after engaging in explicit conversations with what he thought was a child on social media. Despite being told the account owner was only 12, West continued the sexual communication and tried to arrange a meeting for sexual activity.
Following his arrest, police seized multiple devices from West’s home, uncovering indecent images of children, including two Category A images—the most serious classification—and four extreme pornographic images involving sex acts with dogs. Further investigation revealed messages with other users that confirmed West’s ongoing sexual interest in children.
West was charged with:
- Attempting to incite a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity
- Engaging in sexual communication with a child
- Three counts of making an indecent photograph of a child
- Possessing extreme pornographic images
He pleaded guilty to all charges at Lewes Crown Court on 24 April 2025. On 13 June, he was sentenced to four years in prison and handed a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order to restrict his future online activity and reduce the risk of reoffending.
Detective Sergeant David Rose said:
“Gavin West is a committed offender with clear, active sexual interest in children. His behaviour online was nothing short of predatory and posed a serious risk of harm to young people.”
Sussex Police reaffirmed their commitment to protecting children online through proactive investigations and public education. They encourage anyone with concerns about online safety or suspicious behaviour to report it via the Sussex Police website, by calling 101, or dialling 999 in an emergency.
