DUNCAN BARTLETT JAILED IN LONDON FOR CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE OFFENCES

A former BBC journalist, Duncan Bartlett, has been sentenced to eight years in prison following a series of heinous child sexual abuse offences. The sentencing took place at Wood Green Crown Court, located in north London, where Bartlett, aged 52, was found guilty of paying for live streams of children being sexually exploited. The court heard that Bartlett had admitted to paying money to view these exploitative broadcasts, which involved children in vulnerable situations.

Investigations by the Metropolitan Police revealed that electronic devices seized from Bartlett contained nearly 6,000 indecent images of children, highlighting the extent of his offending. Law enforcement officials also uncovered evidence indicating that Bartlett had made financial transactions to individuals based in the Philippines. These individuals facilitated access to live videos of children being sexually exploited, which Bartlett paid to watch. This disturbing detail underscores the international dimension of his criminal activities.

Bartlett, who previously worked as a journalist for the BBC for fourteen years until 2015, was arrested in September 2021. His career included roles such as a correspondent in Tokyo and a presenter of the program 'World Business Report' on the BBC World Service. Despite his arrest and subsequent guilty plea, Bartlett continued his professional pursuits in academia. He was engaged as a researcher and expert in China at London's SOAS University, where he maintained a role until after his guilty plea. It appears that Bartlett did not disclose his criminal activities to his employer, and the university was unaware of his legal issues until they were contacted by the media.

According to a statement from SOAS, Bartlett was employed as a research associate and contractor at the university's China Institute from January 1, 2021, to September 30, 2024. The university clarified that he was not a permanent staff member nor involved in student-facing roles, but was paid as a contractor to produce a series of podcasts about China. His last podcast episode was produced in September 2024. Neither SOAS nor the China Institute had any prior knowledge of Bartlett’s legal proceedings until the media brought the case to their attention today, emphasizing the secretive nature of his criminal conduct and the breach of trust involved.