Computer porn paedophile jailed

Barter downloaded child porn images

An ex-steelworker with a "sinister obsession" with child porn has been jailed after downloading more than 11,000 obscene images to his computer.

Engineer Wayne Barter used the code name BadBoy71 to access paedophile porn web sites.

Cardiff Crown Court heard the 31-year-old of Newport, south Wales, built up a library of child sex pictures.

In court, he admitted 33 counts of making indecent images and asked for 11,022 further offences to be taken into consideration.

You have no understanding of the abuse suffered by these children

Judge Griffith Williams QC

He was jailed for 21 months.

After the court case, a Gwent Police spokesman said the quantity of images indicated a "sinister obsession" and that each image on Barter's computer showed an abused child.

In court, prosecutor Heath Edwards said many of the images showed sexual activity between children and adults.

He said: "Police received information that BadBoy71 was using a file-sharing website which allows people to download images.

"As a result of that police traced the codename BadBoy71 to an account held by Barter.

"They searched his house and took computer equipment and a number of CDs."

Mr Edwards said Barter made the contents of files on his computer available so that others could access the images.

Peter Heywood, defending, said Barter had lost his job as a result of the prosecution.

'Confronted'

He said: "He was arrested at his workplace. His employer confronted him.

"He was candid and Barter was asked to resign.

"He had a good job but he didn't wish to cause his employer any embarrassment."

Judge Griffith Williams QC ordered Barter to register as a sex offender for 10 years and banned him from working with children.

He told Barter: "You have no understanding of the abuse suffered by these children.

"You claimed these were victimless crimes and you think these young children were obviously exploring their sexuality of their own free will.

'Corruption'

"This demonstrates you have no grasp of the corruption and exploitation to which these young children have been put to satisfy paedophiles like you."

He added: "There is no doubt in my mind that you are a paedophile."