Paul Renwick, 60, from Stroud in Gloucestershire, UK, was sentenced to six years in prison.
Forensic examination of his devices found 331 indecent images of children - 44 of which were extreme.
The National Crime Agency (NCA) said Renwick was a "prolific offender, directing and paying for the sexual abuse of children since 2005". From December 2017 to September 2018, Renwick sent more than nine payments to streamers in the Philippines for live feeds of children being sexually abused.
The NCA said there was evidence suggesting he had been paying for access to this abuse since 2005, sending at least £7,000 overseas.
Investigators found he had been communicating with facilitators of live streams, sending money in exchange for watching and directing children as young as seven being abused.
In an NCA interview, he admitted he sent money to the Philippines for what he called "live sex shows" but stated he believed the individuals were more than 18 years old.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cev9k1m8l7lo
Commentary
The accused stated he believed the participants in the "shows" were eighteen years old. "Mistaken belief" is not a defense. If any participant is a minor, viewing is illegal in the United States and the UK.
The industry of live streaming child sexual abuse is a prolific problem in the foreign countries, especially the Philippines. The Philippines has become a global hotspot for the financially motivated development of livestreamed child sexual exploitation.
The abuse is largely driven by demand from countries such as the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and Europe. Local traffickers sexually abuse Filipino children while offenders, typically from Western countries, watch the abuse happen in real time via video call. The sex offenders pay Philippine-based traffickers as little as £15 (approximately $11 U.S.) to participate in online sexual abuse of children. Although it is a small amount for the offender, it is sufficient funds within the Philippines to drive an ongoing demand for new child sexual exploitation material.
The combination of foreign demand, financial motivation, and socio-economic factors contribute to the prevalence of live streaming child sexual abuse.
Live streaming of sexual abuse has multiple harmful effects on children. It can lead to significant mental health problems, including trauma, anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
The live streaming of such abuse also exposes children to further exploitation, as the content can be shared and viewed by a wide audience, leading to ongoing victimization.
The final takeaway is that watching child sexual abuse material, images or live streaming, contributes to sexual abuse; causes life-long harm to children; and should not be considered a victimless crime.
Additional Source: https://www.ijmuk.org/stories/1-in-100-children-sexually-exploited-in-livestreams-new-abuse-images-and-videos-in-the-philippines-last-year-driven-by-foreign-demand
