Seven-year term handed to Eltham paedophile for ‘horrific material’ obtained from online activities

A three-year investigation has led to the conviction and jailing of a sexual offender who targeted children online.

Vinnie Pinkham, 19, of Restons Crescent, Eltham was sentenced on Thursday at Woolwich Crown Court to seven years in prison and given a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

He was convicted of two counts of sexual communication with a child, two counts of causing or inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity, three counts of possessing extreme pornographic images and possession of a prohibited image.

During a Met investigation, cops gathered evidence to show Pinkham attempted to befriend children aged six to eight across England and Wales, and built relationships with them online, to manipulate them into sending extreme sexual images and videos.

Met officers worked with colleagues from Greater Manchester Police and North Wales Police to gather digital evidence and statements from young victims and their families, including photographs and mobile phone data. With this collaborative work, officers were able to piece together the true extent of Pinkham’s offending.

Met officers conducted hours of interviews with Pinkham and his victims, and worked closely with specialist officers in the child abuse investigation team to ensure victim impact statements were as thorough as possible, and victims and their families were provided with support.

Detective Constable Amy Burnell, who led the investigation, said: “The Met’s investigation team viewed images of horrific material seized from the suspect and had to grade the severity of the indecency of the images for viewing in court.

“The team’s diligence and professionalism has ensured this perpetrator has been taken off the streets of London and will no longer be able to hide behind a computer screen and take advantage of vulnerable children enjoying online games and chat rooms with their friends.

“Pinkham exploited children’s youthful ignorance for his personal gratification. We are committed to finding individuals who wish to cause harm to young people across London.”

Pictured top: Vinnie Pinkham (Picture: The Met)