KENAN BROADWAY FROM CARDIFF AND MIDSOMER NORTON CAUGHT WITH CHILD ABUSE IMAGES

In August 2019, a disturbing case emerged involving Kenan Broadway, a young man with ties to both Cardiff and Midsomer Norton, who was found to possess and hide extremely disturbing child abuse videos on his electronic devices. Broadway, aged 19, who has been recognized for his musical talent and was once selected to perform at the prestigious Royal Albert Hall, became the subject of a police investigation after authorities uncovered evidence of his involvement in viewing and storing illicit material.

Broadway, a multi-instrumentalist with roots in Midsomer Norton and a history of studying in Bath, was discovered to have downloaded more than 30 images via the microblogging platform Tumblr. He initially claimed that he had come across these images by accident while browsing adult content online, attempting to downplay the severity of his actions. However, the investigation revealed a far more troubling picture.

Police raided Broadway’s residence in Cardiff, where he is currently attending university, and during the search, they found that he had stored these illicit images in a secret folder on his iPhone. When questioned, Broadway admitted to possessing indecent images of children, including videos that fell into the most serious Category A classification. His device was examined by a cybercrime unit based in Pontypridd, which confirmed the presence of 33 indecent videos, with 16 of them being classified as the most severe form of child abuse material.

During his court appearance at Cardiff Crown Court, Broadway pleaded guilty to three counts of possessing indecent images of children. The court heard that he could not explain why he had accessed these images, only stating that he “could not stop” and “could not look away” when he encountered them on Tumblr. His defense lawyer, Andrew Taylor, highlighted that Broadway had no prior convictions and expressed hope that he could continue pursuing his passion for music, emphasizing his previous achievements, including his participation in the 2016 Music for Youth Proms at the Royal Albert Hall.

Judge Rees, delivering the sentence, emphasized the gravity of the offense, stating, “These children are real victims throughout the world. They often suffer horrendous abuse. There is huge harm involved and you contribute, in your way, by accessing these images.” The court imposed a two-year community order on Broadway, which requires him to complete 150 hours of unpaid work and participate in 10 days of rehabilitation activities. Additionally, he was ordered to pay an £85 victim surcharge and £340 in court costs. The court also ordered that his phone be destroyed to prevent further misuse.

Furthermore, Broadway was placed on the sex offenders register for five years, and authorities indicated that he would be considered for a Sexual Harm Prevention Order in the near future. The case underscores the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to combat the distribution and possession of child abuse material, and the serious consequences faced by those caught engaging in such illegal activities.