SURREY Police specialist officers were responsible for unravelling the "web of offending" by a paedophile who contacted hundreds of young girls across the country and in Northern Ireland. Paul Etheridge, a 24-year-old carpenter from Halesworth in Suffolk, pleaded guilty to a range of child sex crimes at Guildford Crown Court last week and will be sentenced at a later date. He first came to the attention of police in July 2007 when a 13-year-old girl from Reigate reported that she had been propositioned online by a man who wanted her to make and send indecent photographs using her mobile phone camera. Surrey Police is one of a handful of UK forces with a dedicated Paedophile On-Line Investigation Team (POLIT) and they investigated the case. The specialist officers use hi-tech equipment and liaise closely with website owners, internet service providers, mobile phone operators and banks to track and identify paedophiles. The team was quickly able to trace Etheridge and he was arrested at his home on August 9, 2007. Analysis of his computers and mobile phone revealed he had been in contact with hundreds of under 16-year-old girls in areas across the country including Belfast, Lancashire, Norwich, London and Surrey. His mobile phone contained photo albums of more than 200 girls, aged 13 to 15, who had been enticed to send indecent images of themselves via picture messages, often in exchange for mobile phone top-up vouchers. Thousands more images, many from web-cameras, were found on his computer. Surrey Police's POLIT used mobile phone and internet records to track down many of the girls with whom Etheridge had been in contact. In total, he was charged with 33 offences ranging from possession of indecent images and inciting the production of indecent images, to inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and, in the most serious case, engaging in penetrative sexual activity with a 15-year-old girl from London. He pleaded guilty to 26 offences and a further seven remain on file. Detective Inspector Theresa Breen, said: "Our specialist team unravelled a web of offending stretching right across the country. "This case was very serious because the offender had escalated from obtaining images from the internet, to grooming girls to make their own photos and, in one case, actually meeting a girl and engaging in sexual activity. "Modern technology provides a wealth of educational and entertainment benefits for children. But with many now owning their own mobile phone or having a computer in their bedroom, parents must also be aware of the potential dangers. Young people who are approached inappropriately on the internet or by mobile phone should not be afraid to tell their parents, another adult they trust or even the police directly if they are embarrassed. "Online paedophiles may believe their activities are anonymous and they will never be caught. I warn them that Surrey Police knows the methods they use and is willing and able to take action against anyone who comes to our attention for these disgraceful crimes," she concluded. Young people are encouraged to visit the Think U Know website at http://www.thinkuknow.co.uk">www.thinkuknow.co.uk for online safety advice. The top 10 tips provided by the National Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre are: l It's best not to give out your personal details to online mates. These details include your messenger ID, email address, mobile number and any pictures of you, your family or friends. If you publish a picture or video online anyone can change or share it. l Don't believe, reply to, or use junk emails and texts. You won't know what they contain – it could be an inappropriate image or film. l It's easier to speak with people online and say things you wouldn't offline. Some people lie online. l Keep online mates online. Don't meet up with any strangers. l It's never too late to tell someone if something makes you feel uncomfortable. There are people who can help. You can report abuse or get more advice and support online at http://www.thinkuknow.co.uk">www.thinkuknow.co.uk. There are also some simple steps that parents and guardians can take to increase their child's safety on the Internet: l Know what your children are doing online. Take an active interest in their online activities. l Ask them to teach you to use any applications you have never used. l Place the computer in a communal area rather than your child's bedroom.
