A volunteer youth worker has been jailed for publishing hundreds of indecent images of children on social media.
Perry Cornish shared explicit content using his computer both from his home in Crawley and from a youth centre in West Sussex. The specific name and location of the youth centre have not been disclosed to ensure safeguarding measures are upheld.
His activities came to the attention of the police following reports from X (formerly known as Twitter) in December 2021 and January 2022. Following this, the 23-year-old, residing at Dower Walk, Crawley, was arrested, and his electronic devices were seized. An analysis of these devices uncovered images of children aged between four and 17 years.
He was charged with the following offences:
- Making 86 Category A indecent images of a child;
- Making 56 Category B indecent images of a child;
- Making 21 Category C indecent images of a child;
- Distributing a Category A indecent image of a child;
- Distributing a Category C indecent image of a child.
While the case was going through the judicial process, police received a further report relating to Cornish in April 2024.
He had used an online platform to engage in conversation with users he believed to be under the age of 16 – but the users were in fact undercover police officers.
He was further arrested and charged with the following offences:
- Two counts of intentionally attempting to communicate with a girl who he did not reasonably believe to be 16 or over, and encouraging them to make a sexual communication, for the purpose of sexual gratification;
- Two counts of intentionally attempting to communicate with a girl who he did not reasonably believe to be 13 or over, and encouraging them to watch or look at an image of sexual activity, for the purpose of sexual gratification;
- Intentionally attempting to engage in sexual activity with a child who he did not reasonably believe to be 13 or over, for the purpose of sexual gratification;
- Making two Category A indecent images of a child;
- Making nine Category B indecent images of a child;
- Making 240 Category C indecent images of a child.
Due to the overwhelming evidence presented to him, Cornish pleaded guilty to all offences.
At Lewes Crown Court on 30 September, he was sentenced to a total of 32 months’ imprisonment and given a seven-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
Investigating officer, Detectives Sergeant David Rose, said: “This case demonstrates that we continue to take offences of this nature extremely seriously, and anyone found guilty of committing such offences can expect to be dealt with robustly.
“While there is nothing to suggest any of the children in the images were known or connected to the defendant in any way, the content is deeply distressing.
“We would always encourage anyone who is a victim of a sexual offence, or anyone who knows of someone who is at risk, to contact us. Know that your voice will be heard.”
