RYAN BUTCHER FROM MARGATE JAILED FOR ONLINE CHILD GROOMING AND CHILD RAPE IMAGES

In April 2017, a disturbing case emerged involving a man from Margate who engaged in heinous online activities targeting minors. The individual, originally named Ryan Butcher but later adopting the name of a character from the popular series Game of Thrones, was ultimately sentenced to prison after a series of criminal acts involving child exploitation.

Ryan Butcher, aged 29 and residing in Margate, had a troubling history of criminal behavior related to child abuse images. He had previously been convicted for downloading illegal images depicting children, a conviction that came with court-imposed restrictions on his use of social media and internet access. Despite these restrictions, Butcher flagrantly violated court orders by logging into various online platforms, including chat rooms and social media sites, to communicate with underage individuals.

His actions took a sinister turn when he changed his name to Brandon Stark, a character from the renowned television series Game of Thrones, perhaps as a means to conceal his identity or to appeal to certain online communities. Under this alias, he engaged in conversations with minors, including a young boy from Scotland, with whom he maintained contact through online messaging.

Authorities uncovered his activities during a raid on his residence in Margate. During the search, police discovered that Butcher had conducted searches for images depicting child rape and had accessed more than 120 disturbing and illegal pictures. The evidence also revealed that he had been actively communicating with a young boy in Scotland, further highlighting the extent of his predatory behavior.

In addition to his online misconduct, it was revealed that Butcher had visited public libraries in Margate to access Facebook and YouTube, deliberately defying the court order that restricted his internet usage. His attempts to circumvent restrictions demonstrated a blatant disregard for legal restrictions and the safety of minors.

Butcher’s case was brought before Canterbury Crown Court, where he pleaded guilty to 12 separate charges related to his online activities and possession of illegal images. Prosecutor Daniel Stevenson outlined the severity of the case, emphasizing the danger posed by Butcher’s actions.

As a result, the court sentenced Ryan Butcher to an extended three-year prison term. An additional year of his sentence will be served on license, meaning he will be under supervision after his release. The judge’s decision underscores the serious nature of his offenses and the ongoing threat to the safety of children posed by individuals like him.