GARY SALT FROM STOCKPORT JAILED IN MANCHESTER FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY AND ONLINE PAEDOPHILIA RING

In a disturbing case that has shocked the local community, Gary Salt, a 49-year-old man originally from Stockport, Greater Manchester, has been sentenced to an indefinite prison term after a series of heinous crimes involving child exploitation and online child pornography. The case unfolded in Manchester, where Salt’s activities were finally brought to light following a series of investigations into his online behavior and use of public library computers.

Salt’s criminal history is extensive and deeply troubling. He was previously imprisoned for 12 years in 1998 after being convicted of serious sexual assaults against four young children. During that initial incarceration, Salt’s activities contributed to the conviction of approximately 150 other offenders within the notorious Wonderland Club, an international online paedophile network. Salt was known to have posted videos and images depicting the abuse he committed, which played a significant role in the exposure and dismantling of the Wonderland group.

After serving eight years of his sentence on license, Salt was released in November 2006. However, his freedom was short-lived, as he was recalled to custody later that year after it was discovered he had been in contact with other sex offenders. He was released again on April 16, 2010, but his criminal activities did not cease. Merely a day after his release, Salt initiated a new scheme to distribute indecent images to paedophiles through a different online sharing network, demonstrating a persistent and highly calculated pattern of offending.

Under the alias Anthony Andrews, Salt resumed his activities in Manchester and Trafford, systematically using public libraries to transfer illicit images. He frequented libraries in Manchester and Trafford, including the Old Trafford community library, where the proximity of computers to children’s reading areas raised significant concerns. Salt used these public facilities to transfer still images and videos onto four pen drives, which contained material he had taken himself, including images from his previous convictions.

His criminal conduct was finally uncovered in December of the previous year when a vigilant member of the public noticed the disturbing images on Salt’s computer screen at the Old Trafford library. The individual observed Salt sitting next to what he described as “a monster,” as Salt magnified and uploaded images involving children and adults. This observation led to the authorities intervening and seizing the devices, revealing a cache of illegal material.

Among the recovered items were images Salt had taken himself, which directly linked to his earlier conviction in 1998. These discoveries confirmed his ongoing engagement in the possession, creation, and distribution of indecent images of children. During an earlier hearing, Salt admitted to 25 sexual offences, including making, possessing, and distributing such images.

Judge Peter Lakin, presiding over the case, delivered a stern sentence, stating, “You are clearly a committed and very active paedophile who is not willing or able to address your distorted behaviour. What you did was well planned and well thought out. You are clearly very aware forensically and highly computer literate. All of that you employed to your advantage.” Salt was ordered to serve a minimum of 32 months in prison, with five months already served, but was warned that he would not be released until authorities determined he no longer posed a serious risk to public safety.

Salt’s criminal record is further complicated by his involvement with the Wonderland Club, where he played a significant role. His activities included posting his own material on the encrypted network, which was safeguarded with sophisticated coding. Despite his previous role as a key member, Salt later turned informant, providing evidence against other members of the group.

Prosecutor Michael Lavery detailed Salt’s recent conduct, revealing that after his initial release in April 2006, he was recalled in November of the same year after evidence surfaced that he had purchased IT magazines and received discs from a convicted sex offender. Authorities also found a database of sex offenders and literature outlining sexual encounters with children in his cell. Further investigations uncovered plans to establish a new paedophile ring upon his release, including contacts with other prisoners to facilitate such activities.

Salt’s use of public libraries, particularly in Old Trafford and Hulme, was a recurring theme. The proximity of computers to children’s sections in these libraries heightened concerns, although there was no evidence that he approached children directly. Nonetheless, the potential danger was evident. On December 11, a man sitting next to Salt at the Old Trafford library noticed a pornographic image involving a child on Salt’s computer screen. The image was briefly visible, but the man recognized it as part of Salt’s ongoing illegal activities involving encrypted uploads to online networks.

Salt had also become a member of another online paedophile forum called Ranchi, where he adopted the alias “Lord Oberon.” The forum aimed to exchange illicit material, provide advice on evading police detection, and promoted the disturbing view that paedophilia was a sexual orientation rather than a crime. Salt’s involvement in these networks underscores the extent of his engagement in the online child exploitation community, which continues to pose a serious threat to public safety and child welfare.