Sophie Elms, who became Britain's youngest female paedophile when she was jailed at 18, is due to be re-released from prison this month. The former childcare student, now believed to be aged 25 and from Swindon, was sentenced to seven years and ten months in prison in 2019 for serious sexual offences involving children as young as two in Wiltshire.
Recall for license breach
Elms was previously released in September last year but was recalled to prison for breaking her license conditions. None of the offences took place at the nursery or college from her childcare course.
She had pleaded guilty to 16 child sex offences, including sharing indecent images and videos of her assaulting children to a known sex offender. Four mobile phones seized from Elms contained indecent images and videos in category A, the most serious classification.
Official response
Regarding her release this month, a Prison Service spokesperson told Talk to the Press: "These were horrendous crimes, and our thoughts remain with the victims. Upon release, this offender will be subject to the strict conditions of the sex offender's register."
A parent of the young victims spoke in court during sentencing, describing the impact on their family as "unimaginable" and "horrific".
Investigation praised
Following her sentencing, Detective Inspector Simon Childe said: "Understandably, this case has shocked the local community as well as those further afield. Elms is just 18-years-old making her one of the youngest women in the country to be convicted of these types of offences, and at the time of committing these atrocious crimes, she was studying child care with a long term aim of working with very young children in the future."
Childe added: "I am extremely grateful to my team of dedicated officers who have been able to intercept and prevent her from working with children ever again. I would like to firstly praise the families of the very young victims in this case who have shown a great deal of strength throughout this court process - they have been provided with specialist support since the investigation began and we will continue to ensure they and their children feel fully supported."
During the court case, Elms covered her face as she entered and left court.
