Westcliff rapist who took indecent images of children jailed

An investigation into Alex Symeonides, Westcliff Park Drive, Westcliff, was launched in October after a specialist team from Essex Police received information that the 20-year-old was using an internet connection to view indecent images of children.

He was arrested and during questioning admitted to accessing indecent images of children.

During the course of the investigation, officers found a number of indecent images on his devices. They also discovered evidence of sexual offences.

Following this work, Symeonides was charged with two counts of rape, one count of sexual assault and three counts of taking indecent photographs of a child, and he admitted all charges in court.

Symeonides appeared at Basildon Crown Court on Monday 10 June, where he was sentenced to four years and eight months in prison.

Detective Constable Matthew Wright, who led the investigation, said: “Symeonides is a dangerous offender and Essex is a safe place when he is behind bars.”

“Our goal is to protect people from harm and we will do everything in our power to bring charges against sexually abusive offenders.

“Our forensic and detailed work throughout this investigation uncovered further criminal offences and, given the evidence presented to him, Symeonides had no choice but to admit his guilt.

“Essex is not a place for sex offenders and child abusers to hide.

“I hope that this verdict will help the victims of Symeonides’ crimes on their road to recovery.”

In addition to his prison sentence, Symeonides was given a restraining order to protect him from sexual violence and was placed on the sex offenders’ register for life.

Last year, Essex Police’s online investigation team made more than 600 arrests or interviews of suspects for these crimes and obtained 424 charges – more than any other police force in the UK.

Last year, the team also solved 92 percent of the approximately 450 cases it handled.

Essex Police has the third highest conviction rate for sexual offences brought before the courts and last year the force also protected more than 2,500 children from sexual crimes.