Pensioner Avoids Prison After Sickening Chat About Abusing Baby
A pensioner has avoided a prison sentence after being caught engaging in an appalling online discussion about the sexual abuse of a five-month-old baby. Ronald Lovatt, aged 68, participated in the sickening chat on platforms including Chatiw and WhatsApp, which led to a police raid on his home in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent.
Police Raid Uncovers Indecent Images
During the search, officers discovered four category A indecent images on a device. These images depicted children aged between one and six years old being sexually abused by adults. The case was heard at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court, where prosecutor Hunter Gray detailed the events.
Gray explained that on March 4, 2024, the National Crime Agency alerted police to the discussion between Lovatt and an NCA decoy. The defendant had become involved in what was described as an "appalling narrative about sexual abuse of a five-month-old child."
Guilty Plea and Previous Conviction
Lovatt, of High Lane, Burslem, pleaded guilty to two charges:
- Attempting to publish an obscene article
- Making indecent images of children
The court also heard that he had a previous conviction from 2023 for possessing an extreme pornographic image, adding to the severity of his case.
Mitigation and Sentencing
Barry White, mitigating for Lovatt, stated that his client was facing significant difficulties with friends and family as a result of his actions. "He understands that it is all his own fault and that there are real victims. He is very apologetic for what he has done," White said. He added that Lovatt had delved into this murky world around 2023/2024 but no longer frequents chat rooms and is deeply embarrassed.
However, Judge Richard McConaghy expressed concern over Lovatt's lack of remorse. "In the pre-sentence report you showed no remorse whatsoever for what you have done. You continue to deny having committed the offences. I am told you are remorseful but I have detected no hint of that," the judge remarked.
He noted Lovatt's troubling thought process and previous community order for extreme pornography, concluding that the community would be best served by his engagement with probation services rather than immediate imprisonment.
Suspended Sentence and Orders
As a result, Lovatt was sentenced to:
- Two years in prison, suspended for 18 months
- A rehabilitation activity requirement for up to 45 days
- Placement on the sex offenders' register for 10 years
- A Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) for 10 years
- A £2,000 fine
This outcome, reported by Stoke-on-Trent Live, reflects the judge's belief that public safety is enhanced through probation supervision rather than incarceration, despite the grave nature of the offences.
