A man who tried to import a childlike sex doll has been jailed in what is thought to be one of the first prosecutions of its kind in the UK.

Andrew Dobson, 49, was sentenced at Chester crown court on Friday to two years and eight months behind bars after pleading guilty to importing an indecent object, two counts of making indecent images of children and one count of possessing indecent images of children.

The court heard how Dobson, of Wistaston in Crewe, triggered an investigation at East Midlands airport on 23 September last year, Cheshire police said.

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Border Force officers, acting under the direction of the fast parcel joint border intelligence unit, identified a parcel labelled as a mannequin, but which was found to contain an obscene childlike doll.

This was addressed to Dobson and had been purchased from Hong Kong. The package was immediately withheld and officers from Cheshire constabulary notified.

Dobson was arrested at his home and following a search indecent images of children were found on his computer. During his interview, Dobson admitted buying the doll to use for sex and for his own sexual gratification.

He also admitted downloading child abuse images and movies online.

DC Andy Kent, of Cheshire constabulary’s paedophile and cyber-investigation unit, said: “Knowing child sex dolls exist and are available for sex offenders to buy is sickening.

“For Dobson to go to great lengths to import one for his own sexual gratification shows the extent of his paraphilic interest in children.

“This conviction is the first of its kind for Cheshire. Cases like these are also very rare across the country. However, I want to make it clear that importing a child sex doll is a criminal offence.

“Dobson should serve as an example to those who think they can also commit this crime for their own selfish needs.”

Border Force’s Julian Doughty, senior manager at the fast parcel joint border intelligence unit, said: “The Border Force detection at East Midlands airport was the vital first step in the identification and conviction of an individual who was found to be involved in other serious offences against children.

“The importation of dolls like this is a new phenomenon and Dobson is one of the first people sentenced in the UK in relation to such an item. Working closely with law enforcement partners, Border Force is determined to bring those involved in this type of offence to justice.”

Hazel Stewart, from the National Crime Agency (NCA) child exploitation and online protection specialist operation team, said: “These dolls are most often imported from China and Hong Kong and the sellers intentionally label the parcels as something else in an attempt to ensure they defeat checks.

“Importation of the lifelike dolls is a relatively new phenomenon and there is no offence of possession, only importing an obscene article.

“We know their purchase can indicate other offences against children. The NCA and Border Force coordinate law enforcement activity, carrying out intelligence checks and offering specialist advice every time these indecent and obscene items are seized at the border.

“Importers should expect to have law enforcement closing in on them.”