A British man will be spending two years and eight months in prison after he was caught smuggling a sex doll that resembles a four-year-old girl.
Andrew Dobson, a 49-year-old nuclear energy expert and a father of one, ordered the child-like “pedophile” doll from Hong Kong and had it shipped to the UK by mail, reports the BBC.
The doll, which Dobson reportedly purchased from a HK-based sex toy firm for $200 (£157), got intercepted by Border Force officials at East Midlands Airport.
Soon after, Dobson was charged with importation of an obscene item, a first case ever of its type in the UK.
Investigators also uncovered 26 pornographic images of children being abused in photo and video form on a computer at his home in Wistaston, Cheshire.
The man pleaded guilty to the doll importation case plus other charges that involved making and possessing the indecent images found in his home. He was sentenced for two years and eight months in prison for his crimes.
“I had the doll shown to me and it is disgusting to think that this type of item exists and can be bought and imported all over the world,” Judge Simon Berkson said during the sentencing, according to The Sun.
“This was no mistake or misguided act on your part, it was meant for your perverted sexual desire towards children. This sexual desire was confirmed for the police when they made a search of your property and searched on the computerized equipment and found indecent still images of children and moving images.”
“In the movies, one of which was 12 minutes long was the worst type of abuse that can happen to a child,” he added. “I am told that for the importation charge this is the first sentence for the offense in England and Wales.”
The doll was revealed to be about 3.5 feet (105 cm) in height, aged between 3 years and 8 months to 6 years and 2 months, according to a doctor’s estimates.
The court heard the sender of the package had tried to hide what is was.
Dobson’s lawyer, Simon Parry, defended him by pointing out that the doll was “child size and not child like”.
“He is ultimately ashamed of the situation he has got himself into and he is motivated to explore this offending behaviour and put it behind him,” Parry was quoted as saying.
“This is somebody who has had a sexual difficulty that needs to be addressed and nipping in the bud.”
