Azov Films, UK Conviction

PAEDOPHILE has been jailed for buying child porn images – from perverts in Canada.

Robert Harper, 60, was sentenced at Bristol Crown Court to 19 months, after admitting five counts of making indecent images of children and four counts of voyeurism – including videos of men filmed in changing rooms without their knowledge.

He will be on the Sex Offenders’ Register for ten years and must abide by a ten-year Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO), which will start on his release from prison.

Harper was charged as part of Operation Spade, an international investigation into people buying child abuse material from Canadian company Azov Films.

Information was submitted by Toronto police via Interpol to the UK. The National Crime Agency passed on details to domestic police forces at the end of last year.

Harper was arrested in March and his home in Batheaston was searched. Officers seized equipment including a PC, laptop computer, tablet, mobile phone and USB sticks.

The equipment was analysed by officers with the High-Tech Crime Unit, who found almost 2,500 indecent images of children, as well as an indecent videos.

A small number of the images were found to be in category five, which is the most extreme level.

DC Stuart Brooks, of Avon and Somerset police, said: “Robert Harper was arrested at his home in March and interviewed. He initially said he didn’t realise the images were indecent.

“As well as the indecent images and video, we also found videos of men being filmed in changing rooms without their knowledge.

“We were able to identify four men in the videos and they confirmed they did not give their consent to being filmed. All the victims were given access to expert help and guidance if they needed it.

“Our message is that anyone who purchases indecent materials of children plays an active role in fueling this horrific industry and must face the consequences.

“While Harper may not have known the identities of the children he had indecent images of, the inescapable truth is that they’re real children being sexually exploited and abused.

“I welcome the sentence given by the court and hope this reminds people who want to make, purchase or sell indecent images of children that they aren’t anonymous and they will be caught.” 

Read more: http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/Bristol-Crown-Court-Paedophile-jailed-buying/story-24552082-detail/story.html#ixzz3K0sL0nYg