JOHN BUDD AND STEPHEN TRIVETT JAILED FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY IN HANDSWORTH

In a case that has shocked the Birmingham community, a man identified as John Budd, formerly known by the alias Stephen Trivett, has been sentenced to prison for his involvement in the distribution of child abuse images via social media. The incident, which came to light through a police investigation, centered around the defendant’s activities on his Twitter account, where he uploaded numerous indecent images of children.

On July 10, 2014, Budd, then operating under the name Stephen Trivett, posted several highly disturbing images on his Twitter profile. These images included five classified as Category A, which are considered the most severe, along with three Category B images and eleven Category C images, all depicting minors in exploitative situations. The police investigation revealed that these uploads were part of a broader pattern of illegal activity involving the distribution of child pornography.

Following the discovery, authorities acted swiftly. They arrested the 48-year-old man, who resides on Somerset Road in Handsworth, Birmingham. During the search, law enforcement officers seized a flash drive containing additional Category A and B images, as well as 48 Category C images. Further examination of his electronic devices uncovered a Category A movie and 13 extreme pornography videos, some of which involved animals, raising serious concerns about the extent of his offending.

Prosecutor Marcus Harry detailed the findings in court, emphasizing the severity of the material involved. He explained that the images and videos found on Budd’s devices were deeply disturbing, with the most extreme images causing particular alarm. The police also discovered that Budd had changed his name to John Budd, a move that appeared to be an attempt to conceal his identity.

During police interviews, the defendant admitted to downloading and distributing the illegal images. His initial statement was made before he changed his name, but he was re-interviewed in May of the previous year, by which time he was known as John Budd. His guilty plea to three charges of distributing indecent images of children, along with additional charges of possessing extreme pornography and making indecent images, led to his conviction.

Judge Andrew Lockhart QC sentenced Budd to two years in prison at Warwick Crown Court. The judge also ordered him to register as a sex offender for ten years and imposed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order. This order restricts his contact with children and limits his access to the internet, aiming to prevent any future offending. The case underscores the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to combat online child exploitation and protect vulnerable victims from harm.