Description
Edward Griffith-Davies, 42, photographed a young boy naked to gain entry to a depraved Telegram pedophile group, described by prosecutor Joshua Gorst as "effectively an organised criminal group engaging in the sexual abuse of children." The images showed the child holding a handwritten sign with the forum's name, and Griffith-Davies expressed a "desire to engage in further sexual activity" with the boy.
Over more than a decade since 2011, he joined five disturbing online forums—including four focused on child abuse and one on bestiality—while amassing over 300 category A indecent images of children (the most serious), 300 category B, and more than 500 category C. In a six-month span, he distributed 27 category A images and videos plus 10 category B ones. His collection also included six prohibited images of children and 24 extreme pornographic images involving animals.
Griffith-Davies, formerly of St Helens and now of Brytirion in Bedwas, South Wales, showed "regret and remorse," per his lawyer Isabelle Haddad, amid mental health issues and no prior convictions. He admitted causing a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity, two counts of distributing indecent images, three of making them, possession of prohibited images, and possession of extreme pornographic images.
Appearing via video link to Liverpool Crown Court in a grey prison jumper, he wept during the hearing and was jailed for four years and four months. Judge Gary Woodhall noted: "The group was building a pool of individuals with access to children who were no doubt then to be targeted in some form. It seems that, very quickly, you were made an administrator or moderator."
The judge highlighted the "profound impact" on the victim, Griffith-Davies' "frank admissions of seeking to gain indecent images of children," and his "genuine regret and remorse," while acknowledging his "obvious sexual interest in children" but no "overt sexual assault." The defendant intended "to obtain sexual gratification."
Griffith-Davies received a 15-year restraining order barring contact with the victim or entry to St Helens, an indefinite sexual harm prevention order, and lifelong sex offender registration.