Household Cavalry soldier jailed for 12 years for child sex offence plot

Household Cavalry soldier Graham Jarvis has been sentenced to 12 years imprisonment for attempting to arrange child sex offences. The 38-year-old plotted to rape a seven-year-old girl and a 10-month-old baby he met online. Jarvis planned to travel from his central London barracks to Wales to carry out the offences, believing he was arranging a deal with the children's mother.

However, Jarvis was unaware he was communicating with an undercover police officer posing as the mother. The offences were arranged in mid-January 2024. At Southwark Crown Court on Thursday, 10 September, Jarvis was sentenced to 12 years for two counts of attempting to arrange the commission of a child sex offence.

Judge's comments on the seriousness of the offences

Judge Adam Hiddleston told Jarvis that his actions were not a fantasy and that he was serious about raping the children. The judge stated he had no doubt that Jarvis believed the children were real and intended to rape them with the assistance of their mother. He described Jarvis's messages as 'cold and clinical', highlighting his willingness to treat the children as objects for his urges.

The judge ruled that Jarvis may pose an ongoing risk to children. He ordered that Jarvis serve at least eight years of his 12-year sentence before being eligible for release, with an additional two years on licence.

Jarvis, who was living at barracks in Hyde Park, denied the offences and was convicted following a trial. He was dismissed from the military after his convictions. His defence counsel stated he was at a low ebb due to a traumatic period when he committed the offences.

Jarvis had completed a degree in animal psychology at the Open University. He has been ordered to serve at least two-thirds of his 12-year prison term.