Judge's "You will be caught" warning as he sentences Dark Web paedophile with hundreds of child abuse images

Kyle Willis (22) was sentenced to ten months in prison after Sheffield Crown Court heard he had collected almost 150 Category A images — showing the most extreme level of abuse — depicting young children being raped and in visible distress.

The court heard police found Willis, of North Road, East Dene, had downloaded browsers enabling him to use the Dark Web, as well as peer-to-peer file sharing software, deletion programs and encryption technology.

He initially denied his offending after being caught in 2019, saying other people had access to the electronic devices seized, but eventually admitted three counts of making indecent images of children and was sentenced last Thursday.

As well as the Category A material, which included a total of 146 videos and photos, Willis accessed 98 Category B images and 148 of Category C.

The court heard Willis had lost his family relationships — including with his child — moved home and become a recluse since being arrested.

He had acknowledged what he had done and taken steps to address his offending, said his barrister, Ms Laura Marshall.

Judge Kelson said Willis’ attempts to cover his tracks with encryption and deleting software made his case “much, much worse” than similar ones which had come before him.

He said aggravating factors included the age and vulnerability of the child victims depicted in the abuse images, their “discernable pain and distress” and the number of different victims.

“This is more sophisticated than many cases because of the way you attempted to hide your criminal activities,” he said.

“Let it be known that the police are cleverer than you — their technology found you and their technology caught you.

“I’m absolutely sure it’s necessary to sentence you to an immediate prison sentence.

“I need to demonstrate to people who may be of the same mindset that this is what happens to those who make indecent images.

“You will be caught and you will be brought to justice.”

Willis was sentenced to ten months for the Category A offence and six months each, to run concurrently, for the other two offences. He was also given a ten-year sexual harm prevention order.