CALLUM BEDFORD FROM CLEETHORPES SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEX OFFENCES INVOLVING ATTEMPTED RAPE AND INDECENT IMAGES

In January 2017, a man from Cleethorpes named Callum Bedford faced a severe legal verdict after admitting to a series of heinous sexual offences involving a girl under the age of two. Bedford, aged 28 and residing at Lairgate Place in Cleethorpes, was identified through an international investigation led by Canadian authorities, which aimed to dismantle networks involved in the creation and distribution of indecent images of children on the internet.

His criminal activities came to light after he shared illicit material via social media platforms, prompting a coordinated effort that eventually led to his arrest. The investigation uncovered that Bedford had engaged in multiple criminal acts, including the production, possession, and distribution of indecent images of children, as well as extreme pornography involving animals. Specifically, he was found to have taken and shared images categorized as Category B and Category C, with counts totaling two for each category, indicating a significant level of abuse and exploitation.

Furthermore, Bedford was implicated in the sexual abuse of a girl under the age of two, with evidence suggesting he had engaged in sexual activity with her. The most disturbing aspect of his crimes was his attempt to commit rape on the young girl, which he attempted on April 30 of the previous year. Authorities also discovered videos on his devices, including a 21-second clip depicting an attempted rape of a girl under two, and a 36-second video showing another girl being abused. Both videos involved Bedford directly, highlighting the extent of his depravity.

Prosecutor Craig Lowe, presenting the case at Grimsby Crown Court, described the distress caused to the young victims, noting that the girl in the video was clearly distressed, making noises that indicated her suffering. In contrast, Bedford was recorded making noises that suggested he was deriving pleasure or sexual excitement from the acts.

Bedford’s mobile phones contained these horrific videos, which were seized during the investigation. His crimes also included making indecent images of children, with a total of 51 Category B images and 69 Category C images, along with the possession of extreme pornography involving animals. He admitted to attempting to rape the young girl, as well as engaging in sexual activity with her, and to the creation and sharing of indecent images.

Judge Mark Bury sentenced Bedford to 14 years in prison, emphasizing the gravity of his actions. The judge stated, “Nobody would behave in this way unless they had a depraved sexual interest in children. You have plumbed the depths of sexual depravity and reached the lowest level possible. No normal person can imagine anything worse than what you have done.” The case underscores the ongoing efforts by law enforcement agencies worldwide to combat child exploitation and bring offenders like Bedford to justice, especially when their crimes involve the most vulnerable members of society.