ABERDEEN MAN CHRISTOPHER BLOOM CAUGHT WITH CHILD ABUSE MATERIAL AND ONLINE SEXUAL EXPLOITATION

In a serious case that has shocked the community of Aberdeen, Christopher Bloom, a 46-year-old resident of the city, faced the courts after authorities uncovered disturbing evidence of child abuse and online sexual exploitation. The police investigation was initiated after receiving intelligence that Bloom’s email address was involved in sharing child sexual abuse material over the internet. This led to a warrant being issued for his residence in the Rubislaw area of Aberdeen, where a detailed search was conducted.

During the raid, law enforcement officials seized multiple electronic devices, including a computer and a mobile phone, which were subsequently analyzed for illicit content. The computer was found to contain three indecent images of children, classified at Category A, B, and C levels, depicting minors aged between 10 and 15 years old. These images bore file names such as ‘young girls’ and ‘teen girl pics,’ indicating their explicit nature. The mobile device contained twelve indecent images, with five classified as Category A, five as Category B, and two as Category C. These images depicted children aged between nine and 15 years old engaged in sadistic sexual acts, some involving adults.

Further investigation revealed that Bloom had engaged in online conversations with an individual using the pseudonym ‘Karen,’ who was later identified as an undercover police officer. On January 25 of the previous year, Bloom communicated with ‘Karen’ via email, during which he shared two videos—one of the most serious category involving children and another involving adults. These exchanges included explicit sexual content, and Bloom’s actions demonstrated a disturbing pattern of behavior.

In court, Bloom admitted to multiple charges. He pleaded guilty to downloading indecent images of children on various occasions between February 21, 2017, and September 17, 2022. Additionally, he confessed to distributing child abuse material through electronic means. The evidence presented at court painted a grim picture of his activities, which included the possession and dissemination of highly explicit images involving minors.

During the hearing, the defense solicitor, Ian Woodward-Nutt, acknowledged Bloom’s troubled mental health and personal circumstances at the time of the offenses, including the breakdown of his marriage. He emphasized that Bloom did not intend to excuse his actions but explained that his online interactions with ‘Karen’ involved discussions about sexual fantasies, which he believed were with an adult female. The solicitor stated that Bloom had expressed remorse and had voluntarily participated in programs aimed at understanding the impact of his offending behavior.

Judge Morag McLaughlin, presiding over the case, recognized the unusual step of Bloom engaging in such rehabilitative efforts and noted this as a positive factor. She indicated that Bloom’s risk to the community could be managed through a community-based order rather than imprisonment. Consequently, she sentenced him to a community payback order with supervision for two years, requiring him to participate in a sex offenders’ program. Bloom was also ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work, remain confined to his home under an eight-month restriction of liberty order, and register as a sex offender for five years.

This case highlights the ongoing efforts of law enforcement in Aberdeen to combat online child exploitation and the importance of vigilance in protecting vulnerable minors from such heinous crimes.