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Plea change ahead of trial in attempted child sexual communication case

Dungannon Court

A forty-two-year-old man who was to stand trial next month on charges relating to attempted child sexual communication has changed his plea.

Kyle Whiteside, from Moody Park, Scarva previously denied a total of six charges comprising two counts of possessing extreme pornographic images as well as single counts of attempted child sexual communication, attempting to cause a child to engage in sexual activity, attempting to cause a child to look at an image of a person engaging in sexual activity and inciting a child to make an indecent image.

Offending occurred between June 12 and July 28, 2020.

A trial date was fixed for October 4, however, at the most recent sitting of Dungannon Crown Court, defence counsel requested re-arraignment on a number of counts.

This was done and Whiteside accepted attempted child sexual communication and both counts of possessing extreme pornographic images.

Prosecution counsel informed the court the guilty pleas were agreed as covering the extent of offending and the remaining matters could be left on the books.

Judge Brian Sherrard ruled pre-sentence reports were required and defence counsel advised a psychological assessment would also be sought.

Whiteside was ordered to sign the Sex Offenders’ Register before leaving court.

He was remanded on continuing bail to return for sentencing on October 16.

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