A man has been given a suspended sentence after committing a series of child sex offences and possessing photographs of animal sexual abuse. 

Joshua Redding, aged 24, of Bath Road, Woolhampton, has been sentenced 18 months in prison, suspended for two years, for child sex offences and other sex offences today August 9 at Reading Crown Court.

He was also issued a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, lasting 10 years.

He previously pleaded guilty to three counts of making a highly indecent photograph or pseudo-photograph of a child and one count each of attempting to cause a child aged 13 to 15 to watch or look at an image of sexual activity.

He also admitted engaging in sexual communication with a child and possession of an extreme pornographic image or images portraying an act of intercourse/oral sex with a dead or alive animal.

He further admitted to possession of an extreme pornographic image/images portraying an act likely to result in serious injury to person's private parts and possession of a prohibited image of a child at the same court on May 29 this year.

On November 12 2020, Redding was found in possession of two prohibited images of children.

On June 4 2021, Redding made indecent images of children, nine of which were category A images which is the worst kind.

Also on June 4 2021, he was in possession of an extreme pornographic image which portrayed a person performing a sexual act with a dog.

On June 4 2022, Redding was in possession of an extreme pornographic image which portrayed an act which resulted, or was likely to result, in serious injury to a person's private parts.

Between June 1 2022 and June 27 2022, Redding engaged in sexual communication with a child who he did not reasonably believe to be over 16-years-old.

On June 27 2022, Redding, for the purpose of obtaining sexual gratification, intentionally caused a child, who did not reasonably believe to be over 16-years-old, to look at an indecent image of himself.

Detective Constable Claire Midwinter, based at Newbury Police Station, said: “I am pleased that Redding pleaded guilty to the offences and that he has been sentenced as a result.

 “Our fight against child sexual abuse will never stop; I hope this conviction highlights not only our commitment to tackling these crimes but also to protect all children and tracking down anyone who seeks to harm them.”

 “We will always listen to victims and fully investigate so offenders are put before the courts.”