Pervert sent child abuse films to officer
Court Reporter A PERVERT who told someone on the “dark web” he wanted to rape their children and sent them videos of youngsters being abused was easily snared - because the person he was communicating with was an undercover police officer.
Steven Boulton spoke of what he would like to do with the 12-year-old and 14-year-old daughters of the person he thought he was messaging. A court heard he then sent a video showing a distressed child being subjected to a serious sex attack by an adult, followed by another indecent video.
After growing to trust the person he was communicating with on the murky and secretive area of the internet, he provided his phone number and police were able to identify and arrest him.
Now the 43-year-old, of Chillingham Crescent, Ashington, has been jailed at Newcastle Crown Court for distributing and making indecent images of children.
Prosecutor Michael Bunch said the undercover officer made contact with Boulton last March.
“The defendant immediately started asking about the other person’s daughters, suggesting he wanted to have some fun with them,” Mr Bunch said. “Communication from the defendant clearly indicated he was interested in committing penetrative sexual activity with what he believed to be the 12-year-old and 14-year-old daughters of the person he believed he was communicating with. He discussed sexually abusing the two girls, using sex toys on them and raping them.”
Boulton sent the profile a video showing a female child aged about six or seven “engaged in penetrative sexual activity with an adult”.
Mr Bunch said: “That child appeared to be in distress at the end of the movie. There was another distribution on March 20. The defendant referred in messaging before sending it to the subject being a ‘13-yearold lass’. It showed a child engaging in sexual activity. The assessment of the age was 11 to 13.”
After saying he trusted the other person, he provided his mobile phone number on March 22. He was arrested the following day. Police found a mobile phone which contained a small number of indecent images and videos, including girls estimated to be aged as young as four.
Boulton was jailed for 32 months and must sign the sex offenders’ register for life and was made subject to a lifelong sexual harm prevention order.
Penny Hall, defending, said self-employed Boulton was struggling with his workload, suffering from depression and drinking to excess.
She added: “He maintains he had no intention of meeting with the person he believed he was sending the messages to.
“He is clearly remorseful and accepts there is a problem which needs to be addressed. He regrets his actions and is disgusted with himself. He wants to put matters behind him and move forward and get help.”