A registered sex offender from Ditton near Maidstone has been jailed after attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child online.
Darren Cross, 42, was caught by Kent Police during an unannounced visit on 3 February 2026 when officers found new undisclosed online profiles and deleted internet history on his phone. These actions breached his sex offenders register requirements and a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
Officers discovered multiple messages of a sexual nature sent by Cross to someone he believed was a 13-year-old girl. Although he claimed he was only contacting underage users to report and get them banned, evidence contradicted this defence.
Cross was charged with attempting sexual communication with a child, two counts of failing to comply with sex offenders register rules, and breaching his Sexual Harm Prevention Order. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court on 14 May 2026 to two years’ imprisonment.
PC Charlotte Wilson said, “Cross is a manipulative individual who tried to cover up his crimes by deleting his search history and creating profiles under fake names. He pretended to protect children online but was actually a threat. Although no one was directly harmed, his intentions were clear. We are committed to monitoring and prosecuting sex offenders who breach their conditions.”
Originally published by UKNIP.
