DANIEL HULBERT FROM WHITCHURCH JAILED OVER NEARLY 70,000 CHILD ABUSE IMAGES IN BRISTOL

In a case that has shocked the local community of Whitchurch and the wider Bristol area, Daniel Hulbert, a 33-year-old man, has been sentenced to eight months in prison after being found guilty of possessing an alarming number of child abuse photographs. The incident came to light after authorities traced his online activity, revealing a disturbing pattern of illegal image downloads spanning several years.

Hulbert, who resides on Hazel Cote Road in Whitchurch, initially accessed adult pornography but was subsequently lured into viewing child exploitation images. Court proceedings at Bristol Crown Court detailed that Hulbert viewed these illicit images for what was described as an “illicit thrill,” highlighting the disturbing nature of his online behavior. The investigation uncovered that he had downloaded a staggering total of 67,873 images depicting children, with only 13,473 of these images being formally charged in court.

Judge Carol Hagen presided over the case and made it clear that the sheer volume of images, more than 60,000 of which were classified as the lowest category of severity, left little room for leniency. She stated, “There were more than 60,000 images, the majority of which were in the lowest category one. It seems to me custody is inevitable,” emphasizing the gravity of Hulbert’s actions and the need for a custodial sentence.

As part of his sentencing, Hulbert was also issued a Sexual Offences Prevention Order, which prohibits him from accessing the internet without permission and restricts his ability to view or download any further illegal material. Additionally, he is required to register as a sex offender for a period of ten years, a measure designed to monitor and prevent future offending.

The prosecution, led by Amy Jones, explained that authorities had received intelligence pointing to Hulbert’s involvement with a Luxembourg-based website hosting illegal content. This intelligence prompted a detailed investigation that traced his online activity back to as early as 2007, revealing a long history of downloading images of pre-teen girls. The investigation confirmed that Hulbert had downloaded a total of 67,873 child images, although only 13,473 were used as evidence in court.

The images ranged in severity, with the majority classified as Category One, depicting children in poses that suggest exploitation but not involving overt abuse. However, the court also identified eight images as Category Five, representing the most serious level of abuse, involving explicit acts of violence and exploitation.

Defense lawyer Edward Burgess acknowledged the seriousness of Hulbert’s actions but highlighted some aspects of his client’s personal life. He revealed that Hulbert had become a father for the first time in December of the previous year. Burgess described Hulbert as a man of good character who is married, with his wife fully aware of the proceedings. He emphasized that Hulbert’s wife supports him but does not condone his behavior, and that Hulbert himself has expressed remorse and shame for his actions.

Burgess also noted that Hulbert’s engagement with this material was driven by a “filthy trade” that exploits children, and that his client recognizes he has a serious problem, even if he does not fully understand or articulate it yet. The court was informed that Hulbert had been in contact with a support foundation, demonstrating some level of remorse and a desire to seek help.

Overall, the case underscores the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to combat online child exploitation and the importance of holding offenders accountable for their actions, regardless of their personal circumstances.