Man who paid for children to be sexually abused jailed

Robert Pasteiner, 76, was sentenced to 12 years in jail after pleading guilty to 36 offences

A 76-year-old man who paid for children in the Philippines to be sexually abused to order has been jailed.

Robert Pasteiner, from Chichester, West Sussex, was identified through suspicious payments totalling more than £200,000 made to individuals in the South East Asian country, including arrested facilitators of live-streamed child sexual abuse.

He was arrested at Heathrow Airport in 2023 before he was due to fly to the Philippines.

Pasteiner was sentenced at Portsmouth Crown Court to 12 years in prison after pleading guilty to 36 offences.

Mobile phone analysis discovered that he had arranged to meet a 12-year-old girl in his hotel in the Philippines.

A search of his luggage found condoms and Viagra, as well as presents.

Further searches of his home uncovered 15 electronic devices, six of which contained indecent images of children.

Paperwork seized contained payment details, how much money had been sent and what the payments were for – noting some as being for a "show".

Pasteiner pleaded guilty to causing or inciting the sexual exploitation of a child, attempted sexual communication with a child, arranging or facilitating the sexual exploitation of a child and making indecent images of children.

He also received a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and will be on the Sex Offender's Register for life.

The National Crime Agency (NCA) said it worked with the National Bureau of Investigation and Philippine National Police to identify and safeguard his victims.

Senior investigating officer Danielle Pownall said: "Robert Pasteiner is a depraved man who posed a significant threat to children around the world.

"The items recovered during our investigation are a clear sign of his intentions in travelling to the Philippines."

Follow BBC Sussex on Facebook, external, X, external, and on Instagram, external, and listen to BBC Radio Sussex on Sounds. Send your story ideas to [email protected], or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.