BRIAN VAUGHAN FROM SILEBY ADMITS TO VIEWING CHILD ABDUCTION IMAGES AFTER BLACKMAIL IN LEICESTER

In February 2014, Brian Vaughan, 48, a resident of Sileby, confessed to accessing indecent images of children online following a blackmail attempt by an American gang.

Vaughan voluntarily surrendered himself at Loughborough police station after receiving an email from a group calling itself the Black Hands Gang. The gang threatened to publicly disclose his viewing of indecent images unless he paid $20,000 in four installments.

Prosecutor Victoria Rose explained, "Vaughan told the police he had accessed indecent images of girls and wanted to confess."

During the investigation, officers found 12 readily accessible indecent images and recovered hundreds of additional deleted images but could not trace the Black Hands Gang responsible for the blackmail.

Vaughan pleaded guilty to eight counts of downloading indecent images of girls aged around 12, originating from September 2011 to February 13, 2013.

The images included 465 at level one, 78 at level two, 68 at level three, and 65 at level four, with none at the most severe level five.

He was sentenced to a two-year community order, which includes supervision and participation in a sex offenders group course.

Mitigating lawyer Martin Auty remarked, "These offences would never have been detected but for his confession. There has been a year since he reported to the police, and he has not reoffended. He sought help."

The offending occurred during a period of isolation and loneliness after losing his job, when Vaughan reportedly had "too much time on his hands."

Mr. Auty added, "He is devastated and ashamed."

Judge Simon Hammond noted, "This is a highly unusual case, but no one should underestimate the severity of viewing images of children who have been abused."

Vaughan, who has no prior convictions, will be required to register as a sex offender for five years and is subject to a sex offences prevention order to monitor his future computer usage.