Backlash as transgender paedophile is spared jail

... after judge is told pervert is anxious about coping in prison

A TORY peer is seeking a sentencing review after a paedophile who identifies as transgender was spared jail.

Baroness Nicholson is demanding action over the case of Peter Selby, who was caught with more than 125,000 child abuse images, including more than 2,400 that were classed as Category A, the most obscene.

Selby, 68, amassed the vile pictures and videos over a decade using internet search terms such as ‘pre teen’ and ‘jail bait’, and the collection featured pictures of children as young as three.

The paedophile, who was born male, admitted three charges of making indecent images of children and one of possesssentence,

‘Shows a level of disregard for children’

ing extreme pornography, which involved an adult engaged in bestiality.

But the judge at Newcastle Crown Court was told that the paedophile was fearful about trying to manage in prison.

Making indecent images of children carries a maximum ten-year prison sentence but Selby was given a 14-month which was suspended for two years.

Recorder Geraldine Kelly said: ‘You identify as transgender and that has caused issues for you and anxiety for you in how you would cope with that if you were sent immediately to prison... the impact of custody would be significant for you in the circumstances.’

The judge said she was suspending the sentence because Selby had sought counselling since being arrested in 2019, and was assessed in a presentence report as being ‘manageable in the community’. Selby, of South Shields, Tyne and Wear, was ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register and abide by a ten-year sexual harm prevention order.

The sentencing attracted public anger, and Conservative peer Baroness Nicholson said she would seek an immediate review of the case.

She said it demonstrated a ‘disregard’ for child safety and questioned whether the judge had ‘overlooked’ child protection in giving the suspended sentence, which allowed Selby to remain in the community. Baroness Nicholson said: ‘We have a monstrous track record on child abuse, child pornography and child trafficking today.

‘The State is a poor parent and this case demonstrates to me – and I am sure to others – a level of disregard for children that goes aggressively against the law, our customs and practice. I feel very strongly indeed about this.’

It is understood that several complaints have already been made to the Attorney General, Suella Braverman, calling for the sentencing to be reviewed as too lenient. Police found the child abuse images on three devices that were seized during a search at Selby’s home.

The paedophile admitted owning the images and claimed to be ‘shocked’ at the sheer number amassed.

Prosecutor Neil Pallister said 2,413 of the child images were classed as Category A. A further 2,127 were Category B and 120,864 were Category C.