Derby paedophile shared horrific child abuse images with like-minded perverts

A Derby paedophile shared horrific child abuse images with like-minded sexual deviants through an online chat group. Derby Crown Court heard how Thomas Bullock of Allenton also possessed hundreds of sick pictures which he had been viewing for his own gratification since he, himself, was just a teenager.

Among the 25-year-old shop worker's collection were more than 300 of the most serious, category A, which typically shows youngsters being raped and sexually assaulted by adults and shared to the internet. Now he has almost two years to stay out of trouble or risk being sent to jail for his warped behaviour.

Dan Church, his barrister, said: “In terms of the distribution it is limited to a single day almost three-and-a-half years ago and the indecent images of children relate to a period of time which started when he, himself, was a child and so was exposed to that kind of material.

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“He is now 25 and has no previous convictions or cautions on his record. He feels ashamed of his behaviour and the shame and embarrassment he has caused to his family.

“His mother sits in the public gallery and his father came with him to the last hearing and they remain supportive of him. He has employment working on the shop floor at a retail premises and, in his pre-sentence report, the author concludes he poses a low risk of reoffending or causing serious harm.”

Paul Stimson, prosecuting, said police executed a warrant at Bullock’s home address in 2021 having received information that an internet address linked to the defendant had been downloading and sharing the abuse images. He said a number of electronic devices were seized and across then there were 329 category A, 412 category B and 650 category C images found.

The prosecutor said: “The distribution was limited to one day where nine images, including category A, were shared by the defendant to a group chat online. It is clear that the defendant was engaging with people in the group forum that had these types of images.”

Bullock, of Cockayne Street South, pleaded guilty to distribution and possession of indecent images of children.

Handing him a two-year jail term, suspended for 21 months, Judge Shaun Smith KC said: “You are a young man of good character and I take into account that since these offences were carried out in 2021 you seem to have learned your lesson, stayed out of trouble and not offended again.”

As part of the suspended sentence order, the judge ordered Bullock to attend a 31-day sex offender treatment programme and 20 rehabilitation sessions with the probation service. He also handed him a 10-year sexual harm prevention order and placed him on the sex offender register, also for 10 years.