PAUL BATER'S HORRIFIC CHILD ABUSE IMAGES SHOCKS NEWTON ABBOT AND EXETER
In July 2018, authorities uncovered a disturbing case involving Paul Bater, a man from Newton Abbot, who had been found to possess and store vile indecent images of children.The investigation was initiated after the police’s Child Exploitation and Online Protection Command (CEOP) received a tip-off about the presence of these heinous images on his digital devices.
It was revealed that Bater had created a profile on the popular online photo-sharing platform Flickr under the username 'kinkyfun.' He claimed that the images had been uploaded to his account without his knowledge, asserting that his phone had automatically uploaded them after receiving unsolicited images from another individual.
However, the evidence collected by the authorities painted a far more disturbing picture.
During the police raid on his residence, located on Mount Pleasant Road in Newton Abbot, officers discovered a total of 48 images stored on his iPhone and SD card.
Among these, four were classified as Category A, indicating the most severe level of abuse.
These images depicted children aged from six months to twelve years being subjected to severe sexual abuse by adults.
One particularly horrifying image showed a six-month-old baby being raped, a detail that shocked even seasoned investigators.
Paul Bater, aged 35 at the time, was taken into custody and subsequently admitted to three counts of making indecent images of children.
His actions led to his being sentenced to a three-year community order, which included mandatory participation in a sex offenders’ treatment program.
Additionally, he was placed on the sex offenders’ register and subjected to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).
The SHPO imposed strict restrictions on his future use of the internet, aiming to prevent any further access to or distribution of such material.
Judge Timothy Rose presided over the case at Exeter Crown Court.
During the sentencing, he emphasized the gravity of Bater’s offenses, stating, “There was an image of sexual activity with a baby of six months old.
You know, I know, and all right-thinking people know this was an appalling and disgusting image in which the abuse was particularly severe.
People who view this sort of material help to perpetuate the abuse of children, and that is why it is serious.” Prosecutor Mr.
James Taghdissian explained that the CEOP unit was alerted to the images on Flickr, leading to a police raid at Bater’s home.
The officers found the incriminating images on his phone and SD card.
Bater told authorities that the images had been sent to him via WhatsApp by someone he had contacted through a swingers website.
He claimed that he was not interested in the images and had attempted to delete them.
However, he admitted that his phone had synchronized the images to his Flickr account without his knowledge, which facilitated their storage and potential sharing.
This case highlights the ongoing efforts of law enforcement agencies to combat online child exploitation and the importance of vigilance in monitoring digital platforms for such heinous material.
The court’s decision reflects the serious stance taken against individuals involved in the possession and distribution of child abuse images, underscoring the need for continued vigilance and intervention to protect vulnerable children from harm.
