A former Workington Paedophile student, Kristian Craig, from West Cumbria downloaded and disseminated “vile” photographs of child abuse and toddler rape to other paedophiles online during the Covid lockdown, yet has evaded a prison sentence.
Carlisle Crown Court was informed that among the 71 obscene photos obtained and disseminated by 23-year-old Kristian Craig from Workington over a span of five days, some victims were under four years old.
The defendant, Kristian Craig, residing on John Street in Workington, confessed to three charges of downloading indecent child photos, which included 18 of the most severe Category A; and three charges of disseminating such images to persons with similar interests.
All offences were perpetrated in 2020.
Prosecutor Brendan Burke addressed the court. One of the most distressing images was included in a video depicting the torture and abuse of a four-year-old child.
Judge Nicholas Barker noted that the typical term for disseminating such photos was often three years of imprisonment.
He informed Kristian Craig: “It is accurately assessed as serious because those who traffic in this abhorrent material, disseminating it to others, generate a demand…”Consequently, this poses a risk that minors, regardless of their location, may be subjected to abuse in the most abhorrent, repugnant, demeaning, and detrimental manner, as demonstrated by certain materials found on your computer.
The judge stated that mitigating circumstances surpassed aggravating ones, observing that Kristian Craig was 19 or 20 at the time of the offence.
Judge Barker stated that there was a viable possibility of rehabilitation, thereby imposing an 18-month prison sentence, suspended for two years.
The penalty included 15 days of rehabilitative activities, a sex offender treatment program, and 180 hours of community service.
Kristian Craig will be on the Sex Offender Register for ten years. Sentences centred on rehabilitation seek to safeguard society by averting the recurrence of such offences in the future.
April 2023
Deviant confesses to disseminating child sexual abuse photographs to fellow paedophiles.
A 23-year-old male, Kristian Craig, has confessed to the creation and dissemination of indecent photos of minors.
Kristian Craig, residing on John Street in Workington, entered a guilty plea to the following crimes during his appearance at Workington Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday:
- Producing and disseminating kind A indecent photographs of a child (the most egregious kind of abusive imagery)
- Creation and Distribution of Category B Indecent Images of a Child
- Creation and Distribution of Category C Indecent Images of a Child
The offences occurred in Workington.
Prosecutor Pamela Fee indicated that the case was inappropriate for punishment at the magistrates’ court and should be referred to the crown court.
Ms. Fee outlined the case, stating that the defendant’s phone had been examined and several photos had been discovered.
The photographs were downloaded and stored on his device. One of the most egregious instances involved a Category A film depicting the rape of a four-year-old child.
The photographs were disseminated among the defendant and several other paedophiles.
Ms. Fee stated that the baseline for disseminating Category A photographs was three years of imprisonment, thereby rendering the acts “clearly beyond” the sentencing authority of magistrates.
Mike Woolaghan, in defence, stated: “I concur – it exceeds the sentencing authority of this court.”
Mr. Woolaghan requested the probation department to draft a pre-sentence report prior to Kristian Craig’s sentencing at Carlisle Crown Court on May 12.
Kristian Craig will need to register as a sex offender at the police station within the next three days.
Kristian Craig was awarded unconditional bail until his subsequent court appearance.
If you or anyone you know have been affected by the people highlighted in this article, then please report those individuals to the Police on 101 (999 if an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details of the options for reporting a crime. You can also make a report at Crimestoppers should you wish to be completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.