BIGRIGG MAN USED AI SOFTWARE TO MAKE INDECENT IMAGES OF CHILDREN
A man from Bigrigg, West Cumbria, has been placed on the Sex Offender Register after admitting to using AI software to modify images of children.Sam Cruden, aged 27, was scheduled to go on trial at Carlisle Crown Court for two days over allegations that he used AI to produce eight indecent images of children, but he entered a guilty plea on the day trial was set to commence.
The images in question were categorized as Category C, the least serious form of indecent child images.
During the court hearing, prosecutor Tim Evans explained that Cruden employed AI technology for the purpose of “altering” - that is, effectively removing clothing from - stock photos of children aged seven and eight.
It was revealed that these images were stored on Cruden’s personal mobile phone, which was protected with a PIN.
They had been hidden in a disguised folder resembling a calculator app; tapping this icon revealed the images.
Cruden had downloaded and paid for the AI software with funds from his personal bank account.
Police officers who examined his device also found 11 images of naked adults, some of which were connected to Cruden via Instagram.
At the time he used the AI software on the images of adults, this activity was not illegal.
However, it has since become unlawful.
The court explained that the illegal and other “undressed” images appeared in the mobile’s photo gallery every time Cruden accessed his camera roll.
It was noted that Cruden used the software at various times, including late at night and early morning hours.
The prosecutor characterized Cruden as someone with a prolonged and intense interest in creating images of nudity from legal photographs.
The artwork of children was produced between June 8 and July 3, 2023.
Until his recent guilty plea, Cruden denied any knowledge of the images.
In police interviews, he also claimed he did not use AI or any image editing tools.
His defence requested that sentencing be postponed to prepare a pre-sentence report.
The court will sentence him next month.
Judge Philip Grundy told Cruden that he would be sentenced on July 16 after pleading guilty.
Cruden, whose only previous offence involved excessive alcohol in 2019, was granted bail with the condition that he not live or sleep at any address with a child.
The judge highlighted that, as a convicted sex offender, Cruden is required to comply with the rules of the Sex Offender Register, providing his personal information to police.
The duration of his registration will depend on the sentence handed down.
