Darren Collis, 57, of Rockall Close in Haverhill, near the Essex-Suffolk border, was sentenced to 11 years in prison with a further six years on licence at Peterborough Crown Court on Friday, October 23.
He had earlier pleaded guilty to 30 child sex offences.
Detective Sergeant Mark Cotton of the Suffolk Internet Child Abuse Investigation Team, said: “Darren Collis is a serious, online predator who groomed his victims in order to meet up with children and commit serious sexual offences.
“His conviction has come as a result of partnership working with the Eastern Region Special Operations Unit (ERSOU) which work proactively to identify and track online sexual predators.
“I would like to thank them and everyone who has worked on this investigation, especially DC Rachael Adams and PSI Josie Phillips whose hard work included identifying and locating victims from across the country.”
“It is a combination of everyone’s efforts that has ensured a dangerous predator is now behind bars.”
Collis admitted to a series of offences including sexual communication with a child, causing a child to watch a sexual act, grooming, arranging/facilitating to meet a child, causing a child to engage in sexual activity, and making and distributing indecent images of children.
The court heard that in May 2025, he began communicating on Snapchat with a profile he believed belonged to a 14-year-old boy.
The profile was fake.
Although the ‘boy’ told Collis he was 14, Collis continued the conversation, attempted to engage in sexual conversation, and sent explicit images.
He also referred to speaking with another boy of the same name who was 13.
Collis was arrested at Cardinal Park in Ipswich on May 28, 2025, after arranging to meet the ‘boy.’
A subsequent search of his home led to the seizure of multiple devices.
Forensic examination revealed further sexually explicit conversations with children under 16, to whom he sent explicit images and videos and attempted to arrange meetings.
In total, police identified 15 victims.
Collis was also ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register, and an order was enforced for the destruction of a number of devices belonging to Collis.
Det Sgt Cotton said: “No family should have to go through what Collis has subjected his survivors to, and I would like to commend the victims and their families for their help and courage in bringing this sexual predator to justice.
“We are committed to bringing to justice those who engage in these crimes.”
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