Ian Kaufman 51

Description

A paedophile football coach catfished a girl on Snapchat by pretending to be a 17-year-old boy.

Ian Kaufman, 48, sent the 16-year-old pictures he had taken from the internet so he could groom her.

The vile pervert would then use software to save videos and pictures she sent him on Snapchat.

When police raided his home they discovered Kaufman kept other sick images of child sex abuse and cartoons of children being raped.

Liverpool Crown Court today heard one of the disgusting images involved a girl as young as two-year-old.

Ken Grant, prosecuting, explained police raided Kaufman's home after receiving "information about the uploading of an indecent image of a child to the internet using the Kik Messenger service."

As officers searched Kaufman told them he had a concealed mobile phone in his bedroom, which was seized along with various other items.

In an interview, Mr Grant explained, Kaufman "stated he set up the Kik account and that the name was JJDingle1".

Kaufman denied uploading any indecent images of children but admitted to speaking to a 16-year-old from Scotland on Snapchat, claiming he didn't know it was an offence.

Mr Grant said: "He admitted he had told her he was 17 and admitted he had sent her images taken from the internet of a male penis."

The 16-year-old girl from Scotland had sent Kaufman a video of herself "using a sex toy" and "fondling her breasts".

He said: "All these images were recorded by the defendant from Snapchat using an application called Mobizen."

The court heard that the software allows the user to keep videos from the social media platform even after they are deleted from Snapchat.

Mr Grant said: "He believed the Scottish girl sent them to him around February 2020 and didn't ask her for them but was in an online relationship and it was in the context of that relationship in which she sent him those videos."

He said: "He had sent her money on two occasions and also sent her a necklace.

"He did this because he felt sorry for her and she had needed help financially."

Mr Grant explained that while searching his devices officers discovered Kaufman had kept other indecent images of children and had an image of bestiality.

In a second interview Kaufman denied using Twitter to access indecent images of children, Mr Grant explained.

Among the images were eight category A videos, two category B pictures and 37 category C images.

Kaufman has no previous convictions.

Des Lennon, defending, explained that despite a difficult upbringing Kaufman went on to work as a "football coach in the community", adding there were "no complaints about his conduct" and it was "quite startling these matters have come to light in recent times".

Mr Lennon said there had been "issues within his marriage" and he was "searching for sexual gratification online".

He said: "This is a complete aberration as far as he is concerned."

Mr Lennon said Kaufman accepted the behaviour was "unacceptable" and "inexcusable".

He said: "The defendant is utterly sorry and ashamed for what he has done and is genuinely remorseful."

Mr Lennon said Kaufman had made efforts "of his own volition" such as reaching out to the Lucy Faithful Foundation and completing 12 modules.

He said Kaufman suffers from cerebral palsy and epilepsy and had been the victim of "unspeakable acts" as a child.

Mr Lennon explained Kaufman volunteered information about the girl to police, which is why they were able to trace her.

He added Kaufman suffers from mental health difficulties and had tried to take his life four times since April last year.

He said: "Once this issue came into the public domain he was vilified by members of his local community and as a consequence had to move out."

Mr Lennon explained that he had since been "living in his car outside the city" and suggested he would be "terribly vulnerable" if he was sent to prison.

Kaufman, formerly of East Dam Wood Road, Speke, admitted possession of category A, B and C images, possessing an image of extreme pornography, attempting to take indecent photographs of a child and making indecent images of a child.

Judge David Swinnerton, sentencing, explained Kaufman had sent the girl 50, a necklace and photographs of a boy who he pretended was him.

The judge said Kaufman claimed he hadn't asked for the videos, but admitted using screen capturing software to save them.

Judge Swinnerton said that whether he had asked or not "she still sent them because of your deceit and your lies, which I regard as grooming".

The judge said there were 10 videos of the girl, some of which were eight minutes long, adding it was unclear if the girl was aware he was saving the videos.

Judge Swinnerton said he was in "no doubt" Kaufman "kept them for your sexual pleasure".

The judge ruled that capturing the videos and keeping them was "clearly production".

Judge Swinnerton said: "You encouraged her while she was filming herself with highly sexualised comments."

The judge ruled that his grooming was an aggravating feature but also took into account Kaufman's disabilities, his early admissions and difficult childhood.

Kaufman was jailed for two years and eight months.

He must sign the Sex Offenders Register for life and adhere to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for the same period.