MICHAEL AITKEN FROM POPLAR SENTENCED FOR OVER 50,000 CHILD ABUSE IMAGES IN LONDON

In a case that has shocked the local community of Poplar, London, Michael Aitken, a 67-year-old pensioner, faced serious criminal charges related to the possession and distribution of a vast collection of child abuse images. The investigation, carried out by the National Crime Agency (NCA), uncovered disturbing evidence that linked Aitken to the creation and dissemination of more than 50,000 illicit images.

According to court records, Aitken admitted to the crimes in September following a detailed investigation by law enforcement authorities. The case came to light after NCA officers executed a search warrant at his residence in Poplar in March 2018. During the raid, they seized a total of 22 electronic devices, including three hard drives, a laptop, and a desktop computer, all of which were believed to contain illegal material.

The investigation revealed that between November 23 and 25, 2017, Aitken had made over 840 child abuse files accessible for download by others, indicating active participation in the sharing of such harmful content. Law enforcement officials traced the IP address associated with the files back to his home address, confirming his involvement and residence in Poplar, where he lived alone.

Following his arrest on March 6, 2018, Aitken was taken into custody and subsequently interviewed by authorities. During the interview, he chose to remain silent, offering no responses to questions posed by investigators. His refusal to cooperate did not prevent the case from progressing through the judicial system.

Today, at Snaresbrook Crown Court, Michael Aitken was handed a sentence of ten months in prison, which was suspended for two years. This means he will not serve time in jail unless he commits another offense within that period. Additionally, he was ordered to register as a sex offender for the next ten years and was subject to a sexual harm prevention order, restricting his activities and contact with minors.

The case highlights the ongoing efforts of law enforcement agencies to combat the proliferation of child abuse material and underscores the importance of vigilance and swift action in protecting vulnerable victims from exploitation.