Overview
- David Chellapah was sentenced to 10 years on Friday 22 May after pleading guilty to 21 offences for online sexual exploitation of children.
- Met specialist detectives intercepted and arrested Chellapah on 17 October 2025 when he attended a pre‑arranged meeting with a child, ending an investigation into his online contacts.
- Forensic analysis of Chellapah’s phone and other devices identified multiple victims aged about 12 to 15 and showed sustained grooming, coercion to produce sexual images, and attempts to arrange further meetings.
- Police seized several digital items at his home, including a USB stick containing a large volume of indecent images and videos, some involving very young children.
- The Met says the case reflects rising reporting of sexual offences and underlines planned investments—including a £10 million upgrade to video‑recorded interview suites—to improve victim support and reduce court attendance.