A 41-year-old Warrington man has been jailed after attempting to arrange opportunities to sexually abuse children under the age of 13 during online conversations.
Michael Cartledge, of Whitecross Road, Warrington, was jailed for six years and eight months at Liverpool Crown Court on Tuesday, October 20, after admitting a series of serious child sex offences.
Cartledge pleaded guilty to seven counts of arranging or facilitating the commission of the offence of causing or inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity involving penetration.
He also admitted two counts of attempting to engage in sexual communications with a child and one count of making an indecent photograph or pseudo-photograph of a child.
The investigation began after Cartledge was arrested on April 24, 2025, in connection with an unrelated matter, and his mobile phone was seized.
A subsequent examination of the device uncovered multiple conversations with unknown third parties. Investigators believed the individuals involved were likely to be scammers, based on the language used and requests for payments via gift cards.
However, within those conversations, Cartledge was found to have been attempting to arrange opportunities to sexually abuse children under the age of 13. He also requested images of underage girls.
He described in explicit detail what he wanted to do to the children and attempted to arrange a date for the abuse to take place.
Cartledge was arrested again on June 27, 2025, in connection with these offences, and further electronic devices were seized.
Three Category C child sexual abuse images were subsequently discovered on his devices.
In addition to his prison sentence, Cartledge has been made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and will be required to sign the Sex Offender Register indefinitely.
Detective Constable 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.”
