Intelligence from Organised Crime Unit for southern Wales leads to 14 year sentence for Liverpool man

A man from Toxteth, Liverpool has been sentenced to 14-years in prison after pleading guilty to 42 offences.

Paul Welsh, 46, appeared at Liverpool Crown Court on Wednesday February 12 2025. The offences included possessing, making, taking, and distributing indecent images of children; attempted sexual communication with a child; blackmail; and arranging/facilitating the commission of a child sex offence.

Welsh was also given an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order and will be on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

The court heard that Welsh started a conversation with a child whom he believed to be under 13-years of age over the internet, inciting that child to engage in sexual activity. What Welsh didn’t realise at the time was that the person he was speaking to was actually a police officer from Tarian, the Regional Organised Crime Unit for southern Wales.

Tarian passed the intelligence to officers at the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit (NWROCU), who arrested Welsh on May 5 2023 at his home address. During the examination of multiple devices seized from Welsh, officers identified other victims from across the UK and the US, several of whom had been blackmailed into sending explicit photographs to Welsh for his sexual gratification. 

Detective Constable Viktorija Clarehugh, from the NWROCU, said:

“A long and complex investigation had resulted in a sexual predator being put behind bars for a considerable length of time. Welsh’s utterly depraved actions have no place in our society, and he deserves the sentence given to him.

“Offenders like Welsh believe they can hide behind a computer or phone screen and avoid prison, but this is clearly not the case. We collaborate with law enforcement across the country to safeguard children from harm, whether it occurs in person or online.

“I hope this sentence will act as a reminder that there are no borders when it comes to sexual abuse, it can happen anywhere, and the impact is devastating. If you or someone you know has experienced sexual abuse, or is currently being abused, please come forward and report this to the police.”

Detective Inspector Rich Davies, of Tarian ROCU, said:

“It is our absolute priority to protect children in our communities and I am grateful to our officers and our colleagues at the NWROCU for their meticulous investigation into this appalling case. The successful prosecution and conviction of Welsh, a highly dangerous sexual predator, will ensure that vulnerable children are protected from the risk he poses.”

If you are a child or young person experiencing sexual or physical abuse, the following organisations can provide help and support:

NSPCC: Call 0808 800 5000 or email [email protected]

Childline: Call 0800 1111

You can also report to the police, or anonymously to Crimestoppers: https://crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information/forms/give-information-anonymously