Counter Pedophilia Investigate Unit

MacRae was traced after an FBI investigation

BBC News. A British man who used an internet chatroom to incite a paedophile to sexually abuse an eight-year-old girl in the United States has been jailed.

Ronald MacRae, 51, of Duncan Street, Pallion, Sunderland, sent messages to the offender on his home computer and watched the abuse filmed on a webcam.

He was traced after the FBI tipped off UK police, a court heard.MacRae, who pleaded guilty to eight charges relating to the 2004 abuse, was sentenced to 12 years in prison.

Det Sgt Eric Myers, of Northumbria Police, speaking after the hearing at Newcastle Crown Court, said: “The sentence reflects the horrific nature of the crimes he was involved in.

“MacRae instigated these offences against an innocent girl for his own twisted gratification. ” The court heard that MacRae was tracked down after a two-year investigation involving the FBI and the UK based Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP). Ruth Allen, head of intelligence at CEOP, said: “MacRae believed that because he was thousands of miles away from his victim law enforcement would be unable to connect him with these horrific offences. He was wrong.”

MacRae was put on to the Sex Offenders’ Register for life.