RIAZUDIN MAHMUD CAUGHT IN BOOTLE FOR CHILD SEX ABUSE IMAGES AND VIDEOS

In October 2021, authorities in Merseyside uncovered disturbing evidence of child exploitation linked to Riazudin Mahmud, a resident of Bootle. The case came to light after police officers made a routine visit to his home, where Mahmud immediately confessed to viewing and possessing illegal images of children being sexually abused.

Mahmud, a 49-year-old man and a bus driver by profession, was found to have deliberately sought out and downloaded numerous indecent images and videos depicting child abuse. His actions included the distribution of one such image, which led to further investigation. The police discovered a staggering collection of material on his electronic devices, including 1,450 still photographs and videos, many of which involved children aged approximately seven to nine years old.

Investigators revealed that Mahmud used specific search terms such as “Pre-teen” and “Young age” to locate these illicit images, indicating a deliberate effort to find content involving very young children. The material was classified into three levels of severity, with most falling into the most serious category. The images and videos showed children in distress, with some clearly suffering abuse, and were sourced from various locations around the world.

When police arrived at his residence on Prior Street in Bootle on December 14 of the previous year, they acted on information received about an email linked to Mahmud’s account. Upon confrontation, Mahmud did not deny his involvement but instead admitted to viewing “child porn,” a term the court later clarified was an inappropriate label. Instead, Judge Kate Bex, QC, emphasized that the correct terminology should be “child exploitation and abuse,” highlighting the severity of his actions.

During the court proceedings at Liverpool Crown Court, the prosecution detailed the extent of Mahmud’s offenses. He was found to possess and download illegal images, with additional charges for distributing one image and possessing 19 extreme pornographic videos, many involving animals such as dogs. The evidence presented showed that Mahmud’s collection included videos and images that depicted children in distress, with some clearly being abused.

Prosecutor Chris Taylor explained that Mahmud’s activities contributed to a harmful market that perpetuates the abuse of children worldwide. The court heard that Mahmud had lost his job following the discovery of these offenses, underscoring the personal and professional consequences of his actions.

In sentencing, Recorder Kate Bex acknowledged Mahmud’s honesty when confronted and described him as “fundamentally a law-abiding decent member of society,” which influenced her decision. She imposed a ten-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, and ordered him to undertake 40 days of rehabilitation activities. Additionally, Mahmud was required to sign the Sex Offenders Register for ten years, pay £1,200 in prosecution costs, and was subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for the same duration, reflecting the serious nature of his crimes.