Young sex offenders ‘start off with child porn’

Abuse survivor charity One in Four has said many young sex offenders in treatment began offending as adolescents by downloading child pornography.

The charity launches its annual report today, which shows it provided treatment to 30 sex offenders in 2013, working closely with the Child and Family Agency and the gardaí.

“During the past year, the number of young men aged 18 to 25 years who havebeen referred to One in Four has increased and now comprises almost a quarter of all offenders on our treatment programme,” said Ms Lewis.