Thomas Govan, the Worthing Paedophile, who operated an international paedophile network, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to 25 offences, including the rape of a minor.
Thomas Govan, 23, was sentenced on Friday after pleading guilty to sexual assault, the creation and distribution of indecent photos of children, and multiple charges of inciting children to see sexual conduct.
The Metropolitan Police reported the discovery of a Telegram discussion in May, revealing that Thomas Govan, from Worthing, had sadistically manipulated a 13-year-old girl into self-harm and self-degradation on video. He subsequently distributed the photographs to other paedophiles online.
Subsequently, officers discovered that Thomas Govan had seen the girl on two occasions and had recorded himself raping and sexually assaulting her, a video he subsequently disseminated.
He was arrested by police in Australia in May after the dismantling of an international sex-offenders group, the Met said.
It was suggested that Thomas Govan took advantage of a children’s game chat room.
He was sentenced at Croydon Crown Court to 20 years in prison, was also put on the sex offender register and was given a sexual harm prevention order.
Acting detective sergeant Lucy Fiander, from the Met’s Online Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation unit said: “Thomas Govan’s abhorrent offending and the impact on the victim-survivor and their family cannot be underestimated.
“My heart goes out to all of those affected.
“I want to thank both the Met officers for their diligence and professionalism, and the bravery of the victim-survivor and her family for their willingness to work with us.
“This has ensured a vile paedophile will no longer be able to take advantage of vulnerable children enjoying online games and chat rooms with their friends.
“We’ll do everything in our power to protect children, bringing to justice those predators who threaten their safety.”
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