Detective praises victim as sex offender sentenced

Wednesday, 3 September 2025 06:05

A detective has praised a teenage victim for her testimony after a man was sentenced for attempting to groom her.

Craig Arrowsmith, 48, of Hoadley Green, Salisbury, appeared at Salisbury Crown Court on Monday (1st September) after pleading guilty to sexual communication with a child, making indecent images of children and four counts of possession of extreme pornography, namely bestiality.

He was jailed for 12 months, suspended for 18 months.

He must also complete 200 hours of unpaid work, pay compensation of £500 and complete up to 35 days of rehabilitation activity days. He will also be required to sign on to the sex offender’s register for 10 years.

On January 30th, 2024, police received a Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) referral from the victim’s school, raising concerns that the victim was receiving inappropriate messages from Arrowsmith.

Arrowsmith was arrested and bailed. An examination of his phone revealed that between March 2023 and January 2024, Arrowsmith repeatedly messaged the victim, a 15-year-old girl, on a social media platform, many of which were sexual in nature.

Four videos featuring bestiality were also found on his phone, as well as a total of 245 category C indecent images were also found on his phone, all of which related to superimposed photos of the victim.

Arrowsmith admitted the offences and was sentenced yesterday.

DC Louise Butler of the Child Abuse Investigation Team said: “Firstly, I would like to thank the victim for her bravery throughout the case.

“Her courage in speaking with us and giving a video recorded interview has led to Arrowsmith being sentenced.

“Arrowsmith’s crimes are abhorrent. Despite knowing the victim was only 15 years old, he continued to message her in a sexual manner and used photos of her to impose her face onto an AI-generated female’s naked body.

“He has now been sentenced and will be on the Sex Offender’s Register for the next decade.”