December 2015

Paedophile had ‘warped fantasy’ talked of drugging and sexually abusing children

A 21-year-old man who downloaded and distributed child abuse images has kept his liberty to let him get help.

Graeme Vaughan shared a “warped fantasy” online and talked of drugging and sexually abusing children, a court heard. 

Police went to Vaughan’s home following information from the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP).

Officers found indecent pictures of children on his laptop, including many of those found at the most serious levels, and images of extreme pornography. 

They also found three Skype accounts after the search on February 25 last year, Teesside Crown Court was told.

Two showed sexually explicit chats, with messages and alleged trading of pictures with someone purporting to be 13, said prosecutor Harry Hadfield.

Unemployed Vaughan distributed three images of children at the least serious level in law.

The recipient, like Vaughan, was “consuming images of child sexual exploitation”, added Mr Hadfield.

Vaughan, of Cropton Close, Redcar , admitted making and distributing indecent photographs of children and possessing extreme pornographic images.

He committed the offences – his first – between October 2013 and February 2014.

The case was delayed by a backlog of “so many storage devices” waiting to be examined countrywide in a “triage system”, said Mr Hadfield.

The judge, Recorder Ewan Duff, told Vaughan: “You’ve got to realise these are real children at the end of these images.

“People like you who view them increase the abusing of children worldwide.

“If there was no market the children would not be abused. You’ve got to get that into your head.

“You’ve had the good sense to plead guilty to these offences.

“I accept and appreciate that it’s sometimes difficult to admit fully conduct of this sort.

“It shows real hope of you addressing this behaviour.

“At the time you indulged in this behaviour you had relatively recently come to terms with your particular sexuality.

“That has been difficult for you. I accept that. You were only 19.

“The most profitable course for you, and more particularly for society, it for you to address the difficulties you have in this area.”

Vaughan was given a one-year prison sentence suspended for two years with supervision and a sex offender treatment programme.

The judge added: “I have no doubt that will be challenging for you.

“It’s difficult and embarrassing but it’s designed to help you and it’s designed to prevent offending.”

Vaughan also received a five-year sexual harm prevention order governing his internet use, he will be on the sex offenders’ register for 10 years and must pay £250 costs.