Child offender back in prison thanks to Force's Paedophile Online Investigation Team

A child sex offender who breached his Sexual Harm Prevention order is back in jail following intelligence-led work by Surrey’s Paedophile Online Investigation Team (POLIT).

Max Coughlin, 29 (DOB 27/12/1994), from Redhill was jailed for six years at Guildford Crown Court today (Oct 28) with an extended licence for a further year. 

It follows his trial in February when he was found guilty of facilitating the commission of a child sex offence having already pleaded guilty to making indecent images of children.

Coughlin had been known to police due to a prior conviction in 2014 for making and distributing indecent images of children.  Following his release from prison for those offences, he was subject to the Sexual Offences registration requirements for ten years and had a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) which placed tight prohibitions on him including having no contact with children.

In October 2021, a warrant was executed at an address in Redhill by the Force’s Paedophile Online Investigation Team following intelligence he was breaching his SHPO by using apps including Snapchat and then deleting them. 

Officers recovered 15 devices including phones and laptops from him which underwent extensive digital examination. 

Coughlin was arrested for breaching his SHPO and facilitating the commission of a sexual offence after evidence showed he was making plans to meet a child for the purpose of sexually abusing them.

Having given no comment in his police interview, he later pleaded guilty to making indecent images but not guilty to facilitating the commission of a child sex offence. 

After a review hearing in March 2023, the case was set for trial in February 2024 where he was found guilty. He was remanded in prison until his full sentencing this week where he was given seven years. The judge also ruled Coughlin would be subject to the Sexual Offences registration requirements indefinitely and have a Sexual Harm Prevention Order made on him indefinitely.

Detective Sergeant Ben Green, from Surrey Police’s POLIT Team, said: “Once we received intelligence about Coughlin’s online activity, we took swift action to arrest him and seize his devices and the intended victim was never subject to any physical sexual offence.

“It was clear in this case that Coughlin had been using various tactics to try to cover-up his digital footprint and was prepared to continue lying in the face of the evidence. The behaviour he was showing was predatory so I am extremely pleased with this outcome. 

“I would like to thank officers and staff not only in POLIT, but in the digital forensic and offender management teams, who have all worked together to achieve this result. This is a clear demonstration of our policing response to the ever present online threat posed by predators towards children.”