A man from Keighley, David Houldsworth, 58, has been sentenced to two years in prison after being arrested in connection with a live Facebook sting operation conducted by an online child abuse group. Houldsworth pleaded guilty to two charges: sexual communication with a child and causing/inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

On November 8, Houldsworth was sentenced at Bradford Crown Court. In addition to his prison term, he will be required to sign the sex offenders register for a period of 10 years. Once released, he will also be subject to a sexual harm prevention order.

The investigation into Houldsworth’s activities spanned two years, and Detective Constable Adam Flaxington from Bradford Districts Policing Online Investigations Team expressed satisfaction with the outcome. Flaxington stated, “This was a lengthy two-year investigation, and I welcome the guilty plea and sentence the courts have handed down.”