Scientist jailed for arranging sexual abuse of young girl via email from SOUTH POLE

A BRITISH scientist has been jailed after he sent emails from the SOUTH POLE expressing his desire to sexually abuse an eight-year-old girl.

Simon RouenSWNS

Simon Rouen has been jailed for three years

Simon Rouen, 36, was working at an Antarctic research station when he sent the sickening messages to two undercover detectives.

His whereabouts was tracked by officers and the laboratory manager was swooped on when he landed at Heathrow Airport in London last year.

He was yesterday jailed for three years after he was found guilty by jurors at Southwark Crown Court of arranging the facilitation of a child sex offence and possessing indecent images of children.

Detective Constable Jo Gordon from Kent Police said: "Throughout the course of the emails he sent, Simon Rouen demonstrated a very real desire to sexually abuse the child when he returned to England.

"Fortunately, through our proactive investigations we were able to identify the risk he posed to children and intercept him before any child could be abused."

Rothera Research Station on the Antarctic PeninsulaSWNS

GV of the Rothera Research Station on the Antarctic Peninsula

Rouen, from Cornwall, was arrested on 14 March last year as he returned from a project for the prestigious British Antarctic Survey.

He was caught after he sent a series of emails to undercover cops, with the last being sent from Chile as he made his way back from Antarctica.

A search of Rouen's computer also unearthed indecent images of children.

Rouen, who posed for his mugshot with a long scraggly beard grown during his time in the South Pole, was believed to have been stationed at the Rothera Research Station, on Adelaide Island.

The station, which also serves as the capital of the British Antarctic Territory, is open throughout the year with an average winter population of 22.

Det. Con. Gordon added: "We will use all the techniques available to us to apprehend people who prey upon children online, and who use the internet as a tool to find children to sexually abuse or to view indecent images of children."

Rouen will be subject to a Sexual Offences Prevention Order and will be placed on the Sex Offenders' Register.

A spokesperson for the British Antarctic Survey confirmed Rouen had previously worked for the company.

She said: "The matter has been dealt with by the courts and we do not wish to comment any further."

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