A York man has been jailed for what police described as a ‘catalogue’ of child sex offences.
Adrian Augustyniak, 25, thought he was messaging a 12-year-old girl – and sent ‘her’ disgusting messages and images via an app from August 2022 onwards.
But the profile he had been messaging wasn’t a real girl.
The information was passed to North Yorkshire Police. Officers arrested him, and a number of electronic devices were seized from his home.
On those devices were indecent images and videos of children – some aged as young as three – as well as a so-called ‘paedophile manual’ document.
Augustyniak was charged with making indecent photographs of children, possessing prohibited images of children, attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, attempting to cause a child to engage in sexual activity, attempting to cause a child to look at an image of sexual activity, publishing obscene articles, and possessing a paedophile manual.
On 23 September 2024 he pleaded guilty.
‘Damning evidence’
At York Crown Court today (Friday), he was sentenced to four years in prison. He will be subject to a sexual harm prevention order indefinitely, and added to the sex offenders register indefinitely.
DC Melanie Gladwell, from North Yorkshire Police, said: “The investigation uncovered damning evidence of Augustyniak’s disturbing online activities.
“He had no regard for the welfare of children – his sole concern was his own sexual gratification.
“This case should send a clear message that we will track down anyone involved in downloading indecent images of children, or attempting to engage children in sexual communication online. Such offenders should expect to be brought to justice.”