JOHN HAYES FROM BAMBER BRIDGE SENTENCED TO EIGHT YEARS FOR CONTROLLING GLOBAL CHILD ABUSE NETWORK

In March 2016, John Hayes, a 66-year-old man from a peaceful cul-de-sac in Bamber Bridge, was convicted of orchestrating a worldwide web of child abuse from his bungalow. As he began an eight-year prison sentence, authorities revealed his malicious activities had led to the exploitation of children across Africa and other regions.

Hayes was finally apprehended after Devon and Cornwall Police detained a man who had engaged in explicit online conversations with him. Initially, Hayes claimed he fell victim to a scam when confronted with evidence of his computer history. However, he subsequently pleaded guilty to 14 charges.

His crimes included transferring money to impoverished parents globally and persuading them to abuse their own children on camera. Dressed in glasses and a khaki green coat, Hayes showed no emotion as he was sentenced.

At Preston Crown Court, Judge Jacqueline Beech conducted the sentencing and stated, “You procured a mother who claimed to be in desperate circumstances to perform sex acts for money, while you made lewd requests.” She emphasized his sexual interest in children and explained, “Your criminality involved inciting children to engage in sexual activity, or at least believing that’s what you were doing.”

The judge highlighted that his online chat logs with children included webcam correspondence where he engaged in manipulative and grooming behaviors. She described his attempts to incite children into sexual acts as “disgusting and more reprehensible.”

Despite recent prostate cancer diagnosis, Judge Beech affirmed that this would not prevent a custodial sentence, citing Hayes’s high risk of reoffending.

The court proceedings revealed that Hayes used various chat rooms, primarily aimed at children, and was directed to potential victims by fellow paedophiles. His arrest followed intelligence from Devon and Cornwall Police concerning the sharing and distribution of indecent images of children. During the investigation, authorities uncovered images, videos, and extensive chat logs showing Hayes had contacted children as young as 12 from different countries, including a young girl in Ghana.

Hayes admitted to inciting children to engage in pornography. Charges detailed offences against a 15-year-old in December 2013 and January 2014, a 14-year-old in January 2014, a 12-year-old between January and February 2014, and a 13-year-old girl from January to May 2014. Victims also included a 15-year-old boy between March and June 2014. Additionally, Hayes watched a video of an eight-year-old girl being abused from September 2013 to April 2014.

He further admitted to distributing indecent images of a Swedish boy and sharing images of a nine-year-old on two separate occasions in January 2014. Hayes also pleaded guilty to five counts of possessing indecent images and videos ranging from the most serious (Category A) to less severe (Category C).

DC Ian Zanelli, involved in the case, described the proceedings as “harrowing and particularly vile,” noting Hayes’s persistent online efforts to find potential victims. He explained, “This case is especially aggravated by the fact that Mr. Hayes facilitated live abuse over the internet for his own gratification, even sending money overseas for the purpose of abusing children for his personal viewing.”

As part of his sentence, Hayes was issued with an indefinite Sexual Offences Prevention Order, restricting his internet access and contact with anyone under 16.