The dolls, not pictured, are life-like and anatomically correct (Picture: Alamy)

A man has developed child sex dolls that he claims will stop paedophiles from abusing children – but experts are concerned it could have the opposite effect.

Shin Takagi, a self-confessed paedophile, has never acted on his impulses. However, he wanted to build something to help him keep his urges under control.

‘We should accept that there is no way to change someone’s fetishes,’ he told the Atlantic, explaining how he had founded Trottla – a company that builds life-like and anatomically correct child sex dolls.

‘I am helping people express their desires legally and ethically. It’s not worth living if you have to live with repressed desire.’




He added that the dolls, which imitate girls as young as five, could be used in conjunction with other treatments, such as chemical castration and cognitive behavioural therapy.

Takagi believes the dolls will stop paedophiles offending (Picture: Getty Images)

However, there is no scientific research to back up his claim that the dolls would be successful – and experts worry they could have the exact opposite outcome.

Peter Fagan, a paraphilia researcher from the John Hopkins School of Medicine, cited those undergoing cognitive behavioural therapy and warned the Trottla dolls could have a ‘reinforcing effect’ on paedophilic desires.

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In fact, he said, they could ‘in many instances, cause it to be acted upon with greater urgency’ – however his conclusion was based on offenders, so it may be different for non-offenders.

Michael Seto from the University of Toronto said it could go either way, depending on the person.

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‘For some paedophiles, access to artificial child pornography or to child sex dolls could be a safer outlet for their sexual urges, reducing the likelihood that they would seek out child pornography or sex with real children,’ he said.

‘For others, having these substitutes might only aggravate their sense of frustration.’