The court convicted Benjamin Solowan, the Sark Paedophile, for six counts of attempting to arrange or facilitate child sex offences, as well as six counts of producing indecent photos of juveniles, from his residence in Sark.
Lieutenant Bailiff Russell Finch stated that the court would examine evidence of highly disturbing sexualised communications with individuals whom the defendant perceived to be children.
He stated that individuals were permitted to exit the court immediately if they did not wish to listen, or at any point during the proceedings, and that jail officers might alternate in the dock if they desired.
Subsequently, Lt-Bailiff Finch sentenced Benjamin Solowan to a total of 12 years in jail, stating that the court had to confront ‘pure evil’ and expressed relief that he had not been able to perpetrate sexual acts against children.
However, the aim was significantly evident, and the court acknowledged the presence of sadism in certain exchanges.
The court was informed that Benjamin Solowan, 40, a Canadian-born individual with UK citizenship, had been residing in Sark for familial reasons while committing his offences, and was employed remotely as a software engineer.
In the autumn of the previous year, a member of UK law enforcement impersonated a 12-year-old child named Sophie online.
Benjamin Solowan established communication and originally discussed academic matters and equestrian activities; nevertheless, the conversation quickly turned to sexual topics. He expressed a desire to kiss the girl and advance the relationship. He journeyed to meet the girl, although no encounter occurred.
Evidence was submitted to the police, resulting in his arrest last December. Analysis of his mobile phone revealed indications of additional misconduct.
He supplied the pincode to the gadget; however, it was subsequently revealed that additional information remained inaccessible without successive pincodes. The files were encrypted.
It was determined that Benjamin Solowan had been in communication with a Belgian individual under the username Amelie.
He was not affiliated with law enforcement but derived a perverse gratification from participating in sexualised discourse around youngsters.
The individual initially impersonated a 14-year-old girl named Imarni before further expanding the dialogue by assuming the identities of additional parents. Their protracted and detailed discussions articulated their desires to exploit and sexually abuse minors.
Benjamin Solowan reserved flights to Manchester, anticipating a meeting with the child. In these discussions, he allegedly mentioned intentions to meet additional girls, leading to four further accusations.
Benjamin Solowan also acknowledged possessing indecent photographs of children, classified on an ascending scale from C to A based on their severity. The figures in this instance amounted to 266, 48, and 51, respectively.
In 2020, he was incarcerated in Canada for 12 months for possessing obscene pictures of minors.
In his sentencing remarks, Lt-Bailiff Finch stated that the facts were atypical and, based on the court’s expertise, unprecedented. They were ‘repugnant and profoundly unsettling.’
Benjamin Solowan received a 10-year sentence for attempting to engage in sexual activities with minors, along with an additional two years for possessing indecent photographs.
He will be subjected to an extended sentence license for five years upon his release and notification obligations for ten years.
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