UK Court jails man for Cambodian child sex

MAIDSTONE, England -- A court in the UK has jailed a British man for eight years for having sex with a young Cambodian girl while on a business trip to the country.

Mark Towner, 52, from Kent in southern England was jailed under a 1997 British law which allows pedophiles to be jailed for committing sex crimes abroad.

"You are a danger to young children and the court must send out a message of determination against people who perform acts on one so young," Judge Warwick McKinnon said passing sentence at Maidstone Crown Court.

During his trial prosecuting lawyers told the court that Towner traveled to Cambodia in May 2000 and hired two 7-year-old girls for sex.

He then took photographs of himself having sex with the children and e-mailed them back to Britain.

Computer images

The case was brought after Towner's wife contacted police when she found two images on his computer, the court heard.

Towner had earlier pled guilty to 14 charges, including one of having sex with a girl under 13.

Since opening its doors to tourism and international business over the past 10 years Cambodia has become a major center for the child sex trade.

With high levels of corruption and lax law enforcement the country has emerged as a favored destination for pedophiles from around the world.

Reports by child welfare groups say many officials are actively involved in the child sex trade and there have been several instances where suspects have been able to buy their way out of detention while awaiting trial.

In recent months however the government has promised to crack down on the trade saying it will bar suspected sex offenders from entering the country and will expel those thought to have committed offences even if they have not been convicted.