MORE than 200 offenders were investigated for sexual communications with a child across a single year, a freedom of information request has revealed.

A request made under the Freedom of Information Act to Essex Police revealed between April 2020 and the end of March 2021, 266 offences of sexual communications with a child were recorded across the county.

The request also asked for information on the social media or messaging platform used to make the illicit communications.

The force revealed Instagram was the most commonly used, with 31 cases where the alleged offender used the social media platform.

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Snapchat was used on 16 occasions, Facebook on 12 and WhatsApp on six.

The request also revealed the youngest victim within the timeframe established was a male aged under 11.

In total, 44 children aged 11 or under were victims of this offence, 126 were between the ages of 12 and 15, while 17 were aged 16 and over.

The force cannot provide any further breakdown of the figures as the victims of sexual offences are granted lifelong anonymity by law.