Paedophile caught in undercover sting by police

A paedophile from Cornwall who was caught in an undercover police sting has been jailed.

Luke Cowling, 27, of Tavistock Road, Launceston, admitted seven sex abuse charges and was sentenced to nine years in prison following a hearing in Truro Crown Court on Friday.

The court heard he had an online discussion with an undercover police officer about sexually abusing the latter's seven-year-old daughter - who did not actually exist.

Judge Robert Linford said Cowling had also been in contact with a convicted paedophile - who has since been jailed himself - about abusing three children in the man's care.

Devon and Cornwall Police said Cowling's offending came to light after intelligence was received from the National Crime Agency (NCA) in August 2021 about a KiK - a messaging app - account linked to him that had uploaded an indecent video of a child.

The force said it was also contacted by the Metropolitan Regional Organised Crime Unit after Cowling engaged with an online profile expressing sexual interest in children.

The profile was being operated by a police officer as part of an undercover investigation.

Police said a search was carried out at Cowling's home with a variety of devices seized, including some which showed he had exchanged tens of thousands of messages with a paedophile in Merseyside.

During a police interview, he admitted having a sexual interest in children, a force spokesperson added.

Defending barrister Rupert Taylor said Cowling had admitted the "grave offences" and had a deep seated problem but was not a monster.

Following the sentencing, case officer Sophie House said the investigation had been complex.

She added: "We welcome today’s sentence and hope this conviction serves as a stark warning to those with an unlawfully blurred view of consent and the wider implications of child sexual abuse material.

"Cowling and the other individual’s relationship was a true meeting of wicked minds, in addition to Cowling’s entrenched sexual interest in child sexual abuse material."

Follow BBC Cornwall on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected].