Man jailed for running dark web child abuse sites

A paedophile from north London who ran dark web forums which shared indecent images of children has been sentenced to six years in prison.

Matthew Slate, 36, was a "global moderator" on Olympus, a pro-paedophile forum, and held prominent positions across six other child abuse websites, according to the National Crime Agency (NCA).

He used these platforms for "his own sexual gratification" and to "encourage others to view, share and discuss" crimes against children, a senior NCA investigator said.

Slate, from Wood Green, Haringey, was also handed a 10-year sexual harm prevention order on Friday at Wood Green Crown Court.

Slate was arrested in March last year after the NCA received reports that he had indecent images in his possession.

His house was searched and officers seized three devices, including a computer which was logged into an online forum where the sexual abuse of children was being discussed.

Another tab displayed a site used to upload child sexual abuse material.

The NCA said that nearly 87,000 indecent images of children were found on the devices, with more than 15,200 of them found to be Category A, the most severe.

Slate also financed and co-created a site which was designed as an image hosting tool, so users could upload child abuse material.

Slate previously said he "never intentionally arranged or facilitated the sexual abuse of children". He further claimed he was blackmailed into paying for the image-hosting site but provided no evidence to support this.

He previously pleaded guilty at the same court on 19 February to the following offences:

• five counts of distributing an indecent photograph/pseudo-photograph of a child
• two counts of arranging/facilitating the sexual exploitation of a child under 13 years of age
• three counts of making indecent photograph/pseudo-photograph of a child
• one count of possessing a prohibited image of a child.

Robert Lay, NCA senior investigation officer, said: "Slate's depravity led him to become an active member of multiple pro-paedophile forums across the dark web.

"He encouraged others to view, share and discuss vile crimes against children with no regard for the victims involved."

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