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A charity has called for 'child sex dolls' to be free on prescription for paedophiles - but have been accused of normalising paedophilia.

The chairman of StopSo's said that child sex dolls' being free on prescription could help an individual "remain law abiding".

But children's charities have condemned the idea and the National Crime Agency has called for the dolls to be criminalised.

Juliet Grayson, chairman of Chepstow-based charity Stopso, provoked the criticism by saying the dolls should be made available on prescription.

She said: "If someone comes forward and says, 'I am attracted to young children, and I want help to ensure that I never act on that attraction, so that I never harm a child,' then maybe society should consider the use of dolls in a carefully regulated way.

"Perhaps a 'prescription' for the use of a child sex doll could be given, alongside therapy, mentoring and supervision, could help the individual remain law abiding and fully accountable for their behaviour."

She added: "This carefully regulated use of child sex dolls might be one way to keepchildren safe. It feels like dangerous territory, but is certainly worthy of consideration."

"Society needs to reach a point where a teenager can say to his mum, 'I am a paedophile,' and she will get him the right kind of help to manage his behaviours in pro-social ways."

It comes after a Plymouth man was hauled before the courts for sentencing after possessing indecent images of children and for importing a child-like sex doll.

The dolls, with the appearance, weight and anatomy of a child, had been bought online from sites like eBay, Amazon and Alibaba.com , Wales Online reports.

Brian Hopkins, of Seymour Road, Mannamead appeared at Plymouth Magistrates; Court on July 6 where he faced a total of eight charges.

The remarks from StopSo, which bills itself as a "specialist treatment organisation for the prevention of sexual offending", come after more than 100 of the silicon mannequins were intercepted by the authorities on their way into the country.

The NCA said it had intercepted 123 of the dolls since March and that the seizures had led them to 120 alleged offenders including seven men who are now facing charges and all but one of whom was in possession of indecent images of children

A judge in Kent has also convicted a 72-year-old man of importing an "obscene" item , which illegal under the 1979 Customs and Excise Management Act.

The former church warden, David Turner of Ramsgate, Kent, was arrested when Border Force officials intercepted a 3ft-tall doll he was trying to bring in from China.