A Carlisle man who swapped illegal images of youngsters with others when he was employed as a child activity leader has been jailed for two years.
Police went to the home address of Oliver Owen, now aged 25, in October, 2020, when he was arrested for downloaded illegal images.
In response to the caution, Owen stated: “Yes, I think I have totally ruined my life and all I have worked for.”
Around 6,000 still and moving images of children — including 1,081 classed in category A, the most serious — were found on a mobile phone seized by police. These had been created during an 18-month period using three separate applications.
Also located on the phone were online conversations with others in which Owen discussed his sexual interest in children, prosecutor Tim Evans told Carlisle Crown Court.
Videos had been traded about which Owen made a number of sick comments. He had also been engaged in group chat where child abuse was discussed and “volunteered suggestions” about how this could be done; including a website targeting struggling mothers and “opening a orphanage where they could sell time with kids to the highest bidder”, the court heard.
In addition, a series of sick internet search terms were recovered.
A man of previous good character, Owen admitted the distribution of illegal images, including category A, and making indecent photographs of children.
Judith McCullough, defending, said a number of background reports were available to the court. Owen, of Bowman Street, Carlisle, was truly ashamed of himself, had the full support of his family, accessed the services of a child protection charity and was genuinely seeking to understand and deal with his issues.
“The defendant says he didn’t know how to escape and he was pleased, effectively, to be caught,” said Ms McCullough of his offending. “In my submission that is supported by all that he has done since he was arrested by police back in 2020.”
Imposing an immediate prison sentence, Judge Ian Unsworth QC accepted that the facts of Owen’s offending would be truly shocking to his family and friends. “You descended into the very depths of depravity,” said Judge Unsworth. “This is a truly serious case of its type.”
Owen must sign the sex offenders’ register and comply with the strict terms of a prevention order, both for 10 years.
