KEITH JACOBS FROM GATESHEAD SENTENCED TO 26 YEARS FOR CHILD RAPE AND DISTRIBUTION OF ABUSE IMAGES IN DURHAM

In a disturbing case that has shocked the local community and beyond, Keith Alfred Jacobs, a 57-year-old resident of Heddon View, Ryton, Gateshead, has been handed an extended prison sentence of 26 years after being found guilty of heinous crimes involving child abuse. The offences, which took place in February 2019, included filming himself raping a vulnerable child and subsequently sharing the footage online with other paedophiles around the world.

Durham Crown Court heard that Jacobs also took additional images of himself abusing the defenseless victim, which he distributed to like-minded individuals across the globe. The case came to light when the images surfaced in Toronto, Canada, prompting international cooperation and investigation. The discovery of the footage in Canada led UK authorities to launch extensive inquiries, including advanced geolocation research, to trace the origin of the material.

Following these investigations, Durham Police officers visited Jacobs’ former residence in Shotton Colliery. During the search, they seized his mobile phone and examined its contents. The forensic analysis uncovered the disturbing footage of the child abuse, along with a collection of indecent images of other children that Jacobs had downloaded from the internet. The evidence was overwhelming and deeply troubling.

Initially, when questioned about the images, Jacobs attempted to downplay his actions, claiming it was “a moment of madness.” However, forensic experts later uncovered additional footage that was described as among the worst they had encountered in their careers. Prosecutor Chris Baker highlighted that a distinctive gold ring worn by Jacobs in the footage linked him directly to the crimes. The ring was later given away by Jacobs in an attempt to conceal the evidence.

During court proceedings, Jacobs initially denied the full extent of his involvement but eventually admitted to multiple offences, including rape, two other sexual offences, and the making, possessing, and distributing of indecent images of a child. The court also heard from a psychiatrist who examined Jacobs, revealing that he suffers from borderline personality disorder or narcissistic personality disorder. Despite this, the psychiatrist emphasized that Jacobs posed a high risk of causing further significant harm to children in the future.

Judge Christopher Prince addressed the court, condemning Jacobs’ actions and highlighting the severity of his crimes. He stated, “Not only did you commit these serious offences against a child, but you recorded what you did and uploaded these films, so others could view them.” The judge also referenced the psychiatric report, describing Jacobs as cunning, deceitful, and superficially charming.

As part of his sentence, Jacobs is required to serve at least two-thirds of his custodial period before being eligible for parole. Even then, his release will depend on the Parole Board’s assessment of whether he remains a risk to the public. Upon release, he will be subject to a six-year licence period and will be required to register as a sex offender for life, ensuring ongoing monitoring and restrictions to protect the community from further harm.