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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
National
Andrew Bardsley

Paedophile who advertised £10 a month 'streaming service' for child abuse images has 'lenient' sentence changed

A paedophile who advertised a £10 a month 'streaming service' for sick child abuse images has had his sentence more than doubled.

Haitch Macklin, 38, from Salford, was originally jailed for 20 months at Manchester Crown Court in April.

But he has now had his sentence increased to four years, after the Court of Appeal ruled that the initial punishment was 'unduly lenient'.

The ruling followed an appeal by the Crown Prosecution Service, supported by the National Crime Agency.

After the hearing, the Solicitor General, the Rt Hon Michael Ellis QC MP, said: "The extent of Haitch Macklin’s involvement in this grossly abhorrent distribution of child pornography is sickening.

"I am pleased that the Court has found his sentence to be unduly lenient and decided to increase it."

Officers from the NCA described the footage Macklin possessed as 'some of the most horrific and disturbing content they’ve ever seen in many years'.

Haitch Macklin, 38, from Salford, was originally jailed for 20 months at Manchester Crown Court in April (National Crime Agency)

When police went to his home in Higher Broughton, they discovered he had downloaded more than 2,000 indecent images of children.

Macklin, of New Devonshire Square, Salford, was then released under investigation.

He then began to offer an online 'streaming service' to other paedophiles, using a device he kept in his loft.

(PA)

An undercover American law enforcement officer spotted that Macklin had posted online about offering a £10 a month subscription service.

Another undercover officer based in New Zealand also noticed Macklin's posts, and was told it would be 'totally secure'.

Macklin later claimed to suffer from schizophrenia, and said he heard 'voices' in his head 'telling him that he was a paedophile'.

At the previous hearing, Macklin's lawyer said the defendant has suffered from 'long standing' mental health issues, and said there is a 'very different side to him'.

Hazel Stewart, operations manager at the NCA, said: "Macklin posed a very real and dangerous threat to children.

"A team of officers viewed, assessed and graded the material Macklin sold access to, which they said was some of the most horrific and disturbing content they’ve ever seen in many years investigating child sexual abuse.

"I’m pleased his sentence has been increased which should signal to other offenders that, together with our partners, we will stop at nothing to track down and imprison those individuals who pose the biggest threat to children."

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