Former Firefighter Jailed for Exploiting Children

Robert Stevenson, a 31-year-old former firefighter, has been sentenced to seven years in prison for paying children to send him explicit images online. He was found guilty of multiple sexual exploitation charges after a 15-year-old victim reported him to the police, claiming he threatened to share her explicit photo. Stevenson would contact young girls on social media, falsely presenting himself as a teenager and offering financial incentives for explicit content. Investigations revealed he had communicated with numerous minors across the country, and his bank records showed payments made to several victims. In addition to his prison term, Stevenson received a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and has been placed on the sex offenders register. Detective Sergeant Sophie Draycott emphasized the importance of parental awareness regarding children's online interactions and urged vigilance in safeguarding against such predatory behavior.