JUSTIN PHILIPS FROM HEANOR CAUGHT VIEWING CHILD ABUSE IMAGES IN DERBY AND LIVERPOOL

In August 2020, authorities uncovered disturbing evidence involving Justin Philips, a 21-year-old resident of Heanor, who was found to be viewing heinous child abuse images across different locations. The investigation revealed that Philips initially engaged in this illegal activity while residing in Liverpool, but after relocating to his grandparents' house in Derby, he continued his disturbing online behavior without interruption.

Derby Crown Court was informed that police discovered a collection of vile images and videos on Philips' devices, including one particularly disturbing video where a voice could be heard instructing a young victim to perform sexual acts on an adult. These findings painted a grim picture of Philips' online activities, which involved viewing and possibly sharing illegal content involving children.

During his arrest, Philips attempted to justify his actions by claiming he was part of an internet group composed of like-minded individuals. He insisted that his purpose was to gather information and pass on details to law enforcement authorities, suggesting a supposed attempt to aid in catching other offenders. However, both the police and the prosecution dismissed his explanation as unconvincing, and the judge, Recorder William Harbage QC, concurred with their assessment.

Philips also claimed that he had lost his Samsung mobile phone, which he stated was his primary device for browsing online. Furthermore, he told officers that he could not recall the password to a Russian cloud storage account, where the prosecution believed additional illegal images and videos might be stored. Despite these claims, investigators found enough evidence to establish his involvement in viewing and possessing prohibited material.

The police initially responded to reports of illegal activity at Philips' grandparents' address in Derby, where they received information that indecent images of children were being downloaded from his internet connection. Upon arrival, they were told that Philips had gone to his mother’s residence in Whitchurch, Shropshire. Authorities then seized multiple devices from his mother’s home, including a laptop that contained the illegal content. The footage included one film where a voice was heard instructing a young child on what to do, further emphasizing the severity of the material involved.

In court, Caroline Bradley, prosecuting, detailed the police operation and the evidence found. She explained that the illegal images and videos spanned all three categories of prohibited content, and that Philips had made some admissions during police interviews. Despite his claims of innocence and his assertion that he was merely collecting information about other members of an online image-sharing group, the court was not convinced.

Philips, now residing on North Street in Heanor, pleaded guilty to charges of making indecent images of children and breaching a sexual harm prevention order. As part of his sentence, he was sentenced to 16 months in prison. Additionally, he was handed a new 10-year sexual harm prevention order and will be required to register as a sex offender for the next decade. The case underscores the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to combat online child exploitation and the importance of vigilance in monitoring illegal online activities.