Liverpool Crown Court jails man over online child grooming sting 2026

Key Points

• Robert Daw, 26, from Redwing Lane, Gateacre, Liverpool, appeared before Liverpool Crown Court on Tuesday, September 08, 2026.
• Daw pleaded guilty to several offenses involving the sexual abuse of children through online means.
• The police discovered over 1,500 screenshots and video records of chats with children, as well as indecent and prohibited images and videos on his computers.
• Daw was arrested by the police in December 2024 after sending sexually offensive messages to someone who he thought was a child.
• A total of three children aged between 12 and 13 were identified and protected by the police with the help of their partners.
• Daw was sentenced to three-and-a-half years in jail, with a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order and placed on the sex offenders register forever.

Liverpool Crime (Liverpool standard) September 08, 2026 – A Liverpool man who believed he was messaging a child before police officers arrived at his door has been jailed after admitting offences connected to the online sexual exploitation of children. Robert Daw, 26, of Redwing Lane, Gateacre, appeared at Liverpool Crown Court on Tuesday, where he was sentenced following guilty pleas to multiple charges relating to child sexual exploitation online, as reported by the Liverpool Echo.

An investigation was launched after Daw used social media and a messaging platform to communicate with someone he believed to be a child. During those exchanges, he sent sexually explicit messages and attempted to develop a sexual relationship, according to details provided in court and relayed by the Liverpool Echo. Officers arrested Daw in December 2024 and seized several electronic devices for forensic examination.

Forensic analysis of the devices recovered indecent images of children, prohibited images of children, and evidence that he had been communicating with numerous children online. Investigators recovered almost 1,500 screenshots and screen recordings of online conversations, together with indecent images and videos that had been stored on his devices. Officers were able to identify and safeguard three children aged 12 and 13, with support provided through the relevant police forces and partner agencies.

Daw was sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison. He also received a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) and will remain on the sex offenders register indefinitely.

What sentence did Robert Daw receive at Liverpool Crown Court?

Robert Daw was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court on Tuesday, September 08, 2026, to three-and-a-half years’ imprisonment after admitting multiple offences relating to the sexual exploitation of children online. In addition to the custodial term, the court imposed a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order, which places long-term restrictions on his activities to reduce the risk of further harm. He will also remain on the sex offenders register indefinitely, as reported by the Liverpool Echo.

The sentence follows a police investigation that began after Daw communicated with someone he believed was a child and sent sexually explicit messages in an attempt to develop a sexual relationship. His arrest in December 2024 led to the seizure of electronic devices that later provided the evidence base for the prosecution.

What evidence did police find on Robert Daw’s devices?

Police seized a number of electronic devices from Robert Daw following his arrest in December 2024, and those devices were subject to forensic examination. The forensic team found indecent images of children, prohibited images of children, and evidence that he had been communicating with numerous children online.

Investigators recovered almost 1,500 screenshots and screen recordings of online conversations, together with indecent images and videos that had been stored on his devices. The scale of the material and the content of the conversations formed a significant part of the case presented to the court.

How many children were identified and safeguarded in the investigation?

Officers were able to identify and safeguard three children aged 12 and 13 during the course of the investigation. Support was provided to those children through the relevant police forces and partner agencies, according to statements from the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit’s internet child abuse team.

The identification and safeguarding of the children followed detailed digital investigations that uncovered the extent of Daw’s offending and enabled officers to take protective action.

What did Detective Constable Naomi Puig say about the case?

Detective Constable Naomi Puig, from the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit’s internet child abuse team, said: “Daw used online platforms to target and exploit children for his own gratification.” She added: “Through detailed digital investigations, officers uncovered the extent of his offending and were able to identify and safeguard a number of children.”

DC Puig continued: “This sentence demonstrates our commitment to pursuing offenders who use the internet to target children and bringing them to justice.” Her remarks underline the operational focus on online child protection and the use of digital evidence to secure convictions.

What advice has the organised crime unit given to the public?

A spokesperson for the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit said:

“The NWROCU continues to work with regional and national partners to identify offenders, safeguard children and prevent online child sexual abuse.”

The unit highlighted ongoing collaboration with partners across the region and nationally to disrupt offending and protect young people.

The spokesperson added that anyone concerned about the online safety of a child can report concerns to police or via the Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Safety Centre at www.ceop.police.uk. The advice is intended to encourage early reporting where there are worries about a child’s interactions online.

Background to the development

The sentencing of Robert Daw follows a broader pattern of police operations targeting online child sexual exploitation across the North West. In recent months, courts in the region have heard multiple cases involving individuals who initiated contact with children or with decoys posing as children on social media and messaging platforms.

The investigation into Daw began after he communicated with someone he believed was a child and sent sexually explicit messages. His arrest in December 2024 led to the seizure of devices and the subsequent recovery of almost 1,500 screenshots and screen recordings of conversations, alongside indecent and prohibited images and videos. The case reflects the increasing reliance on digital forensics to build prosecutions in online grooming and child sexual exploitation matters.

The North West Regional Organised Crime Unit’s internet child abuse team has been central to this work, working with regional and national partners to identify offenders and safeguard children. The unit’s public guidance points to the CEOP Safety Centre as a route for reporting concerns, reinforcing the role of both law enforcement and dedicated child protection channels in addressing online risks.

Prediction: How could this development affect parents, schools and online platforms in Liverpool?

The sentencing in this case is likely to sharpen attention among parents, schools and online platforms in Liverpool on the risks children face when using social media and messaging apps. For parents and carers, the details of the investigation may prompt more detailed conversations with children about not sharing personal information online, recognising grooming tactics, and reporting suspicious contact to a trusted adult or to CEOP.

Schools and youth organisations may use the case as part of safeguarding updates, reinforcing existing policies on online safety and the importance of early reporting when pupils disclose concerning interactions. The identification and safeguarding of three children aged 12 and 13 in this investigation highlights how quickly online contact can escalate and why clear reporting routes matter.

For online platforms, the case adds to the pressure to maintain robust age-verification measures, effective reporting tools and rapid cooperation with law enforcement when child safety concerns arise. The North West Regional Organised Crime Unit’s emphasis on partnership working suggests that future operations will continue to combine digital investigation with multi-agency safeguarding, potentially leading to more preventative activity and earlier intervention where risky behaviour is detected.