CRAIG CHITTENDEN SENTENCED IN WILLINGTON FOR CHILD SEX OFFENCES AND EXTREME PORNOGRAPHY

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Willington, County Durham, Craig Chittenden, aged 33, has been sentenced to a lengthy prison term after a series of heinous crimes involving child exploitation and extreme pornography. The case came to light after police investigations uncovered chilling evidence of his involvement in planning and discussing the abuse of minors, as well as possessing a vast collection of indecent images.

Chittenden, who gained brief fame as a winner on the popular Channel 4 quiz show Countdown in 2010, has a dark history that starkly contrasts with his earlier public persona. During his appearance on the show at the age of 22, he was celebrated for his intelligence and was considered a role model by many at Bishop Auckland College, where students and staff admired his skills in word and number puzzles. His success on television made him a local figure of some prominence, but his subsequent actions have cast a shadow over his reputation.

According to court reports, Chittenden was involved in disturbing online conversations with other paedophiles, during which he expressed a desire to abduct and sexually abuse young children. Prosecutor Jane Waugh detailed how, in February 2020, Chittenden shared 24 indecent images of children with another offender. The conversations included explicit discussions about kidnapping and murdering a young child, with Chittenden explicitly stating his preference for children aged three or four years old. He also discussed the possibility of keeping a child for a short period, subjecting her to multiple rapes, and then killing her by smothering, as well as how to dispose of the body afterward.

When questioned by detectives after his arrest, Chittenden dismissed these conversations as mere 'fantasy and escapism,' claiming he had no sexual interest in children. However, he admitted that he was sexually aroused by the images he possessed. During a second interview, he claimed to have no memory of the chat about child abuse, torture, and murder, but did not deny its occurrence.

Police searches of his residence revealed a horrifying collection of nearly 1,000 indecent images, along with over four hours of video footage depicting children as young as two being raped by adults. The material also included extreme animal pornography involving horses, dogs, and cats. Chittenden’s online activities extended to live video chats with a woman in the United States, who was actively involved in sexually abusing her young daughter while he watched, further illustrating the extent of his depravity.

Chittenden’s planned trip to the south of England to carry out a child abuse act was described by him as a 'fantasy,' and he claimed to have 'fallen down a rabbit hole' into increasingly disturbing online content. His actions and communications demonstrated a clear pattern of predatory behavior and a disturbing fascination with violence and sexual violence against children.

In addition to his online activities, Chittenden was employed at Finbarr’s, a fine dining restaurant in the region, where he was once regarded as a talented and promising individual. His past success and reputation starkly contrast with his current criminal conduct.

Chittenden pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including arranging or facilitating a child sexual offence, inciting the sexual exploitation of a girl under 13, possessing extreme pornography, distributing indecent photographs, and making indecent images. His guilty plea led to an extended prison sentence of 12 years. The court was informed that he would serve a minimum of eight years before being eligible for parole, with a subsequent review to determine if he should be released on license.

Judge Ray Singh delivered a stern judgment, emphasizing the severity of Chittenden’s crimes. He stated, 'There was a clear interest in sadistic torture, extreme violence, and sexual offences towards children. You remained emotionless and detached. When one considers the risk to the public, especially children, I conclude that you pose a significant threat of sexual, physical, and emotional harm. In my view, you are a dangerous offender.'

This case underscores the ongoing threat posed by individuals with predatory tendencies and highlights the importance of vigilant law enforcement efforts to protect vulnerable members of society, especially children, from such heinous acts.