OFFENDERS CHRISTOPHER PADGETT AND JOHN HUGHES ARRESTED IN WEST YORKSHIRE OVER CHILD PORNOGRAPHY

In August 2015, two men were detained at a residence in West Yorkshire after police acted on a tip regarding the upload of child abuse images to YouTube.

Christopher Padgett, aged 21, and John Hughes, 52, who is the partner of Padgett’s mother, had computer equipment confiscated during a raid at their property on Coronation Avenue in Normanton, near Wakefield.

Padgett was found to have viewed more than 5,000 indecent images and videos featuring boys and girls. Of these, over 1,500 images and videos were classified as category A, the most severe level of illegal material. Prosecutor Stephanie Hancock stated that Padgett had also distributed 22 illegal images.

Hughes was discovered to have accessed over 1,000 illegal images. Miss Hancock clarified that although the men lived at the same address, their offenses were committed independently, and there was no connection between their illegal activities.

During police interview, Padgett admitted he might have uploaded images to YouTube but could not recall doing so clearly. Hughes explained that he committed these offenses after starting steroid use to enhance his bodybuilding, which he said had "changed his sex drive."

Padgett pleaded guilty to six charges of possessing indecent photographs of children and two charges of distributing such material. He was sentenced to 14 months in prison. Hughes pled guilty to six counts of possessing indecent images and was sentenced to a three-year community order.

Mitigating counsel Daniel Smith highlighted that Padgett had been suffering from depression and was heavy drinking at the time of the offending, while stating that Hughes had ceased accessing illegal material six months prior to his arrest.

Judge Sean Morris remarked to Padgett, "Those who distribute child pornography must go to prison."