Paedophile told sick fantasies to woman on Plenty of Fish

Bradley Anderson divulged his twisted thoughts of sexually abusing children to a woman he met on Plenty of Fish, Southampton Crown Court heard.

Between August 2021 and August 2022, the now-28-year-old had several conversations with the woman, discussing how he would have sex with her and children.

Anderson, of Clarendon Road, Southampton never acted on these plans though, as he was arrested at his home address. 

Prosecutor Annabel Hazlitt said police seized a number of devices, including a Samsung mobile phone which had been hidden behind a toilet. 

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In total, they uncovered 22 Category A indecent images of children - the most severe type - as well as 10 Category B and 40 Category C images.

These included both still photographs and videos. 

Also found were two prohibited images of children and 253 extreme pornography images.

A search engine was also found downloaded onto the device for accessing the dark web.

On March 1 this year, he pleaded guilty to the arranging or facilitating of a child sex offence, three counts of making indecent images of children, one count of possessing extreme pornography and another of possessing a prohibited photo of a child. 

Speaking at his sentencing on Tuesday, Recorder Don Tait said there is a "dark side" to Anderson's character, adding: "Until your sexual urges are addressed and curtailed you are a danger to young children."

But mitigating, Keely Harvey said the discussions were "more of a fantasy conversation with various opportunities for the defendant to go there."

Southampton Crown Court

She added that he "never intended to carry it out" and was "getting more thrill out of the fantasy of it."

She said: "If this was proper planning on his behalf then the opportunity having been planned for would have been taken and it was not.

"Unusually, Mr Anderson does accept at multiple points throughout that pre-sentence report that he has got this sexual interest with children.

"He has never let that go any further. But it is an indication that he is now self-aware, now accepting that he needs help."

The court heard how Anderson suffers from Crohn's Disease and needs injections as well as a carefully-monitored diet, meaning he would struggle in custody.

But he was jailed for five years with an extended period on licence of four years. 

Anderson was also given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order indefinitely and will be subject to notification requirements. 

A deprivation order was made for the mobile phone.