AARAN AMYS FROM WELWYN GARDEN CITY SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEX ABUSE IMAGES IN UK

In October 2017, a man from Welwyn Garden City was sentenced to prison for his involvement in sharing indecent images of children and engaging in depraved online conversations. The individual, identified as Aaran Amys, aged 30, was found guilty of serious offenses related to child exploitation and was handed an extended custodial sentence that reflects the gravity of his actions.

Amys was convicted after investigations revealed his participation in an online group where he exchanged child sex abuse images and engaged in disturbing discussions. The investigation was initiated when United States authorities tracked a messaging service used by paedophiles, leading to the discovery of Amys' activities. The case was brought before St Albans Crown Court, where prosecutors detailed the extent of his online misconduct.

During the court proceedings, Peter Shaw, representing the Thames and Chiltern Crown Prosecution Service, outlined that Amys used aliases such as 'Superchip ’87' and 'Hi Hi' to conceal his identity. Prosecutors revealed that Amys posted highly disturbing content, including statements like: “I have a really sick and twisted fantasy I need to find someone to help me with it,” indicating his disturbing mental state and intentions. Furthermore, he made vile comments about raping a girl and a baby girl, and shared images depicting such heinous acts on the messaging platform.

The police conducted a raid on Amys' former residence in Walnut Court, Welwyn Garden City, in February of the same year. During the search, officers discovered a Sony Experian mobile phone hidden in a cavity beneath the bedroom drawers. When examined, the device contained two child sex abuse videos—one classified as Category B and the other as Category C—highlighting the severity of his offenses.

Amys appeared in court to face sentencing after pleading guilty to the charges on the day his trial was scheduled to commence. He admitted to distributing Category A images and possessing additional images classified as Category B and Category C. His criminal history includes a previous four-week suspended sentence from 2012 and a fine in June 2016 for breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Judge Jonathan Carroll delivered the sentence, emphasizing the seriousness of Amys' actions. He stated, “I reject any suggestion you are devoid of sexual interest in children. People who seek out this sort of material do so because they have a sexual interest in children. You have absolutely no insight into your sexuality and the harm it has to children. People such as you, who seek out and distribute this material, personally contribute to the serious sexual abuse of young children.”

The judge also addressed the disturbing online comments made by Amys, which appeared to provoke other paedophiles and incite harm towards children. Based on these remarks and his actions, the court classified him as a dangerous offender. Consequently, Amys was sentenced to six years in prison, with a minimum of 3 years and 7 months to serve, followed by a further 2 years and 5 months on extended licence. Additionally, he is subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and will be required to register as a sex offender indefinitely, ensuring ongoing monitoring of his activities and restrictions to protect the public from further harm.