Low Bentham man jailed for three years for online child sex offences

A Low Bentham man who targeted children online has been jailed a second time after breaching his Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Brian Ainsworth, 53, also known as Brian Beagan, of Main Street, Low Bentham, was jailed at York Crown Court on 26 July. He pleaded guilty on 17 May to offences including:

• Attempt to incite a girl to engage in sexual activity
• Attempt to cause a child to look at images of sexual activity
• Attempt to engage in sexual communication with a child
• Breach of Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

His offending was a blatant breach of the order that was issued to him following similar offences and a 22-month jail term in 2019.

Ainsworth contacted a “13-year-old girl” online. Despite knowing the girl’s age, the chat quickly became sexualised to the point where he encouraged her to perform sexual acts, discussed pornography and sent her indecent images of himself.  

The 13-year-old girl who he thought he was talking to was actually a woman. Ainsworth’s offending was reported to police on the evening of 15 May 2023, he was arrested in the early hours of 16 May and appeared in court on 17 May where he pleaded guilty.

After entering his plea at York Magistrates’ Court he was remanded into custody ahead of his sentencing on 26 July when he was also placed on the Sex Offenders Register indefinitely and issued with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order until further order.

Investigating Officer, Detective Constable Kirsty Sullivan of North Yorkshire’s Police Online Child Abuse Team, said: “Despite believing and joking about the ‘girls’ age during his chat with her, his conversation quickly became sexualised. He believed he was talking to a child and blatantly breached his sexual harm prevention order. He has a dangerous sexual interest in children and the sentence handed out today reflects the seriousness of his offending.”

Get help if you have a sexual interest in children

Stop It Now! UK and Ireland | Preventing child sexual abuse

The Lucy Faithfull Foundation’s Stop it Now campaign provides confidential or anonymous advice and support for anyone concerned about their own behaviour or the behaviour of another person or child.

Seeking further support, advice and ways of reporting sexual abuse

Make a report via our website or call us on 101 if you have been a victim of abuse.

If you or someone you know are in immediate danger, always dial 999 for an emergency response.

Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) - Victims who would prefer not to go direct to the police and are not in immediate danger, can contact   Bridge House, North Yorkshire’s Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC), on 0330 223 0362, email [email protected] or go to www.bridgehousesarc.org

You can also contact the Supporting Victims in North Yorkshire at www.supportingvictims.org or call 01609 643100.

Anyone concerned about a child can contact the NSPCC Helpline for advice on 0808 800 5000. Adult victims of non-recent sexual abuse can also get in touch for support.

Childline is available for young people on 0800 1111 or at www.childline.org.uk

North Yorkshire Safeguarding Children Partnership - www.safeguardingchildren.co.uk

City of York Safeguarding Children Partnership (CYSCP) - www.saferchildrenyork.org.uk