CRAIG JENKINS FROM BURTON ESCAPES JAIL DESPITE MASSIVE CHILD ABUSE IMAGE COLLECTION IN STAFFORDSHIRE
| Red Rose Database
Burton Child Sexual Abuser
In a case that has shocked the community of Burton and the wider Staffordshire area, Craig Jenkins, a 44-year-old resident of Tutbury Road in Burton, has narrowly avoided imprisonment despite being found in possession of one of the largest collections of child abuse images ever discovered within the county.
According to court proceedings at Stafford Crown Court, Jenkins was identified as a prolific downloader of illicit material, amassing over 70,000 indecent images and videos of children from the internet. It was revealed that he would often stay awake late into the night, actively transferring and storing these disturbing images on his personal laptop. His activities came to light after a police raid on his residence, which was carried out by officers from the child protection unit.
During the raid, authorities seized Jenkins’s computer and uncovered not only the extensive collection of child abuse images but also 30 photographs depicting adults engaged in bestiality. The images primarily featured young girls, ranging from toddlers to teenagers up to 18 years old. Jenkins faced multiple charges, including ten counts of making indecent images of children, one count of distributing four such images, and one count of possessing extreme pornography. Despite the severity of these charges, Jenkins was not sentenced to prison.
Instead, he was handed a three-year community order. As part of his sentence, Jenkins is required to participate in a sex offender treatment program, register as a sex offender for five years, and is indefinitely prohibited from working with children. Neil Ahuja, the prosecutor, emphasized the gravity of the case, stating that it involved one of the largest collections of child abuse images ever uncovered in Staffordshire.
Judge Mark Eades addressed Jenkins directly during the sentencing, remarking on the nature of his activities. He stated, “In the privacy of your own house, probably in a private room with the curtains drawn, looking at pornography on your computer seems a harmless exercise. It is easy to persuade yourself what you are doing is victimless. The more people like you viewing this, the more children will be harmed. You must understand what you did isn’t some private matter; it impacts on many people, particularly children.”
Jenkins admitted to the charges, explaining that he had an interest in images of children but claimed he did not have a physical attraction to them. He revealed that he had engaged in online chat rooms and exchanged images via email with others. His defense lawyer, Rashad Mohammed, stated that Jenkins’s addiction to viewing adult pornography had led him down this dark path, noting that he initially encountered pop-up ads that directed him to view images of children. Mohammed added, “One thing led to another, and before he knew it, he was downloading large quantities of images. He is willing to address his addiction.”
Neil Ahuja highlighted the seriousness of the case, underscoring the potential harm caused by Jenkins’s actions and the importance of ongoing monitoring and treatment for offenders like him. The case serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing battle against online child exploitation and the importance of law enforcement efforts in safeguarding vulnerable children across Staffordshire and beyond.
According to court proceedings at Stafford Crown Court, Jenkins was identified as a prolific downloader of illicit material, amassing over 70,000 indecent images and videos of children from the internet. It was revealed that he would often stay awake late into the night, actively transferring and storing these disturbing images on his personal laptop. His activities came to light after a police raid on his residence, which was carried out by officers from the child protection unit.
During the raid, authorities seized Jenkins’s computer and uncovered not only the extensive collection of child abuse images but also 30 photographs depicting adults engaged in bestiality. The images primarily featured young girls, ranging from toddlers to teenagers up to 18 years old. Jenkins faced multiple charges, including ten counts of making indecent images of children, one count of distributing four such images, and one count of possessing extreme pornography. Despite the severity of these charges, Jenkins was not sentenced to prison.
Instead, he was handed a three-year community order. As part of his sentence, Jenkins is required to participate in a sex offender treatment program, register as a sex offender for five years, and is indefinitely prohibited from working with children. Neil Ahuja, the prosecutor, emphasized the gravity of the case, stating that it involved one of the largest collections of child abuse images ever uncovered in Staffordshire.
Judge Mark Eades addressed Jenkins directly during the sentencing, remarking on the nature of his activities. He stated, “In the privacy of your own house, probably in a private room with the curtains drawn, looking at pornography on your computer seems a harmless exercise. It is easy to persuade yourself what you are doing is victimless. The more people like you viewing this, the more children will be harmed. You must understand what you did isn’t some private matter; it impacts on many people, particularly children.”
Jenkins admitted to the charges, explaining that he had an interest in images of children but claimed he did not have a physical attraction to them. He revealed that he had engaged in online chat rooms and exchanged images via email with others. His defense lawyer, Rashad Mohammed, stated that Jenkins’s addiction to viewing adult pornography had led him down this dark path, noting that he initially encountered pop-up ads that directed him to view images of children. Mohammed added, “One thing led to another, and before he knew it, he was downloading large quantities of images. He is willing to address his addiction.”
Neil Ahuja highlighted the seriousness of the case, underscoring the potential harm caused by Jenkins’s actions and the importance of ongoing monitoring and treatment for offenders like him. The case serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing battle against online child exploitation and the importance of law enforcement efforts in safeguarding vulnerable children across Staffordshire and beyond.