MAN BEGAN DISTRIBUTING INDECENT IMAGES AFTER HE WAS RELEASED FROM PRISON
Shortly after being released from prison, a convicted drug trafficker began sharing disturbing images of children online.Paul Riley, who had served time for a significant heroin and crack cocaine trafficking operation valued at £1.6 million, was found to have amassed and shared hundreds of child abuse images and videos via the Kik messaging app.
The Liverpool Crown Court was told that police linked a Kik profile to Riley’s address, which led to a search warrant being executed on August 19 of the previous year.
During the investigation, officers confiscated an Apple iPhone belonging to Riley, which contained 304 indecent images of children.
Among these, 36 photos and 62 videos were classified as Category A, illustrating the most grave level of abuse.
Additional images and videos fell into categories B and C, and included extreme porn involving animals.
Riley had been collecting this material since May 2021 and uploaded certain images on eight separate dates between June 29 and August 6.
He also shared images with 13 individuals, some depicting children as young as five, with one video showing a six-year-old being raped.
Prosecutor Christopher Hopkins noted that extensive chat logs showed Riley and others had a pronounced interest in child abuse imagery.
During police interviews, Riley claimed he thought the images depicted adults over 18.
His criminal history included a 2020 sentence for conspiracy to supply controlled drugs, after which he was released in early 2021.
However, he was subsequently recalled to prison and had remained in custody.
Brendan Carville, defending, described Riley as a family man with a long-term partner and a nine-year-old child, asserting that he had accepted responsibility for his actions.
Riley pleaded guilty to charges of distributing indecent images, possessing extreme pornography, and making indecent images, leading to a two-year prison sentence delivered via a video link from HMP Altcourse.
Judge Mark Ainsworth stated that the police found and analysed images on Riley’s phone, emphasising the court’s serious view on the distribution and possession of child abuse images.
The judge made clear that these images are directly linked to the abuse of children and that the market for such material drives abuse.
Riley was also subject to a 10-year sexual harm prevention order and notification obligations, was ordered to pay a victim surcharge, and his mobile phone was forfeited.
