Description
A pervert from Surrey who shared child abuse images on the internet after being banned from having a computer or going online at home has been jailed for five years.
Nicholas Murphy, aged 65, of Staines-upon-Thames, was found with hundreds of indecent pictures and videos of children on his phone which police said he was sending to scores of other people.
During a hearing at Guildford Crown Court, he admitted breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order issued to him following a conviction for distributing indecent images of children in 2005, which prohibited him from having a computer or internet access at his home address.
He successfully applied to have his order discharged in February 2020.
But in July 2020, Surrey Police received information that the user of an email address linked to Murphy had uploaded more indecent images of children to the internet in June and July 2019.
The following September, officers carried out a warrant at his home and he was arrested.
A mobile phone was found at his address and, following examination, it was found to contain hundreds of images and video footage, including prohibited and extreme images.
A message was also found on the same phone which showed Murphy had communicated with another man and made comments about raping children.
A number of chat conversations were also identified where the users of the group had shared indecent images of children, with some of the conversations involving several hundred participants.
Murphy pleaded guilty to making and distributing indecent images of children, possession of prohibited images and possession of extreme pornographic images.
PC Callum Darby from Surrey Police's Online Paedophile Investigation Team, said: “Murphy was already the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, which prevented him from having a computer or internet access, when it came to light that he was offending again. As the investigation unfolded, we uncovered hundreds of indecent images and footage of children on his phone which he was sharing with hundreds of other people. We also found extreme pornographic and prohibited images on the same phone.
“The sentence given to Murphy demonstrates our commitment to ensuring those who take part in such vile and predatory practices at the expense of innocent children are brought to justice.”