A MAN who admitted purchasing eight child-like sex dolls has been jailed.

Police began investigating Mark Carter when Border Force officials at West Midlands Airport intercepted a child-like sex doll which was due to be delivered to an address in Cheshire on October 17, 2018.

The package was withheld and the discovery was reported to officers at Cheshire Police, who subsequently executed a warrant at the 58-year-old’s home. 

When searching the address, officers recovered eight child-like sex dolls along with computer equipment which was later found to contain a number of indecent images of children.

Carter, of Stoneyfold Lane, Bosley, pleaded guilty to six counts of importing obscene articles at Chester Crown Court today, February 11.

He also admitted three counts of making indecent images of children, one count of possession of indecent images of children and one count of possessing prohibited images of children.

Carter was sentenced to 12 months in prison, ordered to sign the sex offenders register for ten-years and handed a ten-year sexual harm prevention order.

Dave Walton, from Cheshire Police’s online child abuse investigation team, said: “While this is an unusual crime, it emphasises that Cheshire Police is committed to tacking those in society whose behaviour towards children is wholly unacceptable. 

“The purchase of so many dolls indicates that Carter was not content with his initial purchases – his behaviour was escalating and he was becoming more specific in satisfying his needs.

“Thankfully, as a result of the partnership work between ourselves and Border Force, we have now been able to bring him to justice. 

“I hope that Carter’s conviction acts as a warning to other offenders and sends a clear message that importing items such as these is a criminal offence and action will be taken.”