A “depraved” paedophile who posed as a teenage boy to incite thousands of children as young as six to perform sex acts on camera from his south London home has been jailed.
IT specialist Robert Chown, 49, first came to the attention of America’s Federal Bureau of Investigation who infiltrated a dark web messaging forum for like-minded perverts named “The Sanctuary”.
Chown, of Borrowdale Drive, Purley, near Croydon, posted 11,966 times as contributor ‘FredHasFiveToes’, as he targeted youngsters in Australia, the US, Denmark, Netherlands, Russia and Poland.
Upon joining the group in 2019, his introductory message read: “Preferences…girls 8-11” and: “as soon as I spot teasing, I’m all over them with compliments”.
He went on to share hundreds of indecent images he’d captured over years of sexually exploiting children online.
Chown also posted a photo of a 12-year-old girl that he had taken in person.
She was identified and safeguarded when FBI investigators contacted the National Crime Agency and child protection services.
From his home in south London, he masqueraded as a teenage boy online to target thousands of children across the world.
Girls and boys as young as six years old were groomed by Chown to livestream sexual acts at his instruction.
When NCA officers arrested Chown in September 2023, they seized two mobile phones containing 2,000 indecent images and videos of children in categories A-C.
They also discovered 204 entries into Google Translate of English into Russian and Polish phrases used by Chown on live streams to incite children around the world to perform sexual acts on themselves.
At Croydon Crown Court on Friday, he was sentenced to 25 years, with seven to be served on licence, having pleaded guilty to 41 charges at a previous court hearing.
Chown will be on the sex offenders’ register for life.
NCA senior investigating officer Phil Eccles said: “Chown poses a significant danger to children, and our thorough investigation exposed him as a prolific offender who carried out depraved sexual abuse over a number of years.
“While this case is extremely distressing, we hope it reassures the public of our commitment to unmasking paedophiles who think that can operate anonymously online.
“Work with our international partners in the FBI and Europol has been key to this investigation.
“Today’s result is testament to the hard work of our investigative team and it is only right that Chown received a lengthy custodial sentence given the severity of his offending.”
Robbie Weber, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said: “The lifelong physical and emotional trauma caused to victims by men like Chown cannot be understated.
“Chown has himself admitted to having a long term extreme interest in child sexual abuse imagery. He was a prolific presence on the dark web, gaining notoriety amongst likeminded individuals who would access and share such vile and indecent material.
“He was a key player in coercing children to engage in being filmed or photographed committing non-consensual sexual acts.
“I hope this conviction and sentence sends a clear message that the CPS will continue to relentlessly prosecute and pursue justice for those who sexually exploit children, whenever and wherever that abuse took place.
“I encourage any victims of child sexual abuse and sexual violence to report the crimes committed against them to the police. You are not alone and there is always help available.”
