A CCTV salesman caught in the act of performing a vile sex act in front of a young girl via a webcam has failed to persuade appeal court judges his sentence was too harsh.
Giovanni Abbondandolo, of Salisbury Avenue, Heywood, received a 15-month sentence at Woolwich Crown Court in July after admitting two counts of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child, and other counts of making and possessing indecent images of children.
The father-of-one, who worked in Warrington, committed the sex act after infiltrating a children's chatroom in September last year, but was caught out after the 12-year-old's aunt was called into the room and captured the monster's obscene act on her mobile phone.
Just days before, the 35-year-old made contact with the schoolgirl, from south-east London, and her cousin in the chatroom, initially posing as a 14-year-old. When she challenged him after seeing his face on the webcam the sex-predator claimed he was 28.
Abbondandolo challenged his sentence on grounds that it was excessive, but had his appeal dismissed by Judge McKinnon, who was sitting with Lady Justice Hallett and Mr Justice King.
He said the sex pest had "invaded private space", knowing he would be contacting children when he joined the chatroom. He later "deliberately exposed himself".
Given the "predatory nature" of his crime, a 15-month sentence was appropriate, the judge ruled.
Label: thisischeshire.co.uk
