A prison sentence has been imposed on a man who downloaded thousands of indecent images of children.
Paul Redford, 64, from Melbourne Avenue, Ramsgate, joined a social media application in 2022 where he used the platform to download and share the images with other users.
On 1 March 2024, officers from Kent Police’s Paedophile Online Investigation Team attended Redford’s home address following information received that indecent images of children were being accessed from the property.
Upon arrival and when officers told him why they were there, he admitted he was responsible.
After his phone was downloaded, officers found 730 of the most serious category A images and videos, 642 category B and 944 category C. They also found he had distributed 40 images and videos through the social media application.
Redford was later charged with making and distributing indecent images of children and possessing extreme pornography and prohibited items. He pleaded guilty to the offences and at Canterbury Crown Court on Thursday 6 March 2025 he was jailed for two years and four months.
He was also given a 10 year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) and is subject to strict sex offender notification requirements for 10 years.
Investigating officer Detective Constable Annalisa Bevans said: ‘The children depicted in indecent images are real children and the crimes committed against them are extremely serious. Redford admitted he was looking at the images for a sexual purpose and he was complicit in the abuse.
‘Investigations like this one are designed to protect vulnerable children by tracking down those who would exploit them via the internet.
‘The jail term Redford received, along with the court orders put in place, will prevent him from accessing or sharing such images again.’
