Man jailed for attempting to arrange the sexual abuse of children
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A man who tried to arrange opportunities for him to sexually abuse children during online conversations has been jailed.
Michael Cartledge, of Whitecross Road, Warrington was sentenced to six years and eight months at Liverpool Crown Court on Tuesday 20 October.
The 41-year-old had admitted seven counts of arranging/facilitating the commission of the offence of causing/inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity – penetration.
He also pleaded guilty to two counts of attempting to engage in sexual communications with a child, and one count of making an indecent photograph/pseudo-photograph of a child.
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Cartledge was arrested on 24 April 2025 in relation to an unrelated matter and his phone was seized.
Upon a review of the phone, multiple conversations were discovered with unknown third parties. These were likely to be scammers due to the nature of the language used and how they were asking for Cartledge to pay money to them via gift cards.
However, within these conversations, Cartledge was trying to arrange the opportunity for him to sexually abuse children under the age of 13, as well as asking for images of underage girls.
Cartledge also described in explicit detail what he wanted to do to the children and even tried to arrange a date for this to take place.
He was further arrested in relation to these offences on 27 June 2025 and further devices were seized from him. Three category C child sexual abuse images were found on his devices.
On top of his custodial sentence, Cartledge is subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and must sign the Sex Offender Register indefinitely.
DC Davy said:
“We welcome the significant custodial sentence handed to Cartledge, who clearly presents a risk to children.
“Although no children were harmed during the commission of these offences, this does not minimise the seriousness of the crimes; Cartledge clearly showed intent to harm a child, even trying to arrange a date where he could commit these horrific acts.
“On top of his custodial sentence, upon his release from prison he will be subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order which means he will be robustly managed and this is another step to ensure he does not commit any more offences of this nature.”