Man jailed for paying for live child sex abuse videos

A man who sent money to the Philippines in return for live feeds of children being sexually abused has been jailed.

Paul Renwick, 60, from Stroud in Gloucestershire, was sentenced to six years in prison at Northampton Crown Court on Monday after pleading guilty.

Forensic examination of his devices found 331 indecent images of children - 44 of which were prohibited and extreme, the court heard.

The National Crime Agency (NCA) said Renwick was a "prolific offender, directing and paying for the sexual abuse of children since 2005".

Renwick pleaded guilty to three counts of paying for sexual services of a child and three counts of making indecent photographs of a child.

He also pleaded guilty to one count of possessing an extreme pornographic image and one count of possessing prohibited images of children.

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.

He was arrested in August 2021.

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.

He also confessed to having a sexual interest in females aged 12 to 14 years old.

Danny Waywell, NCA senior investigating officer, said: "Renwick may have thought that the distance between him and the abuse meant he could operate without detection, but the NCA's work with partners overseas has uncovered the scale of his crimes.

"The NCA will continue to bring criminals like Renwick to justice and pursue those who have any involvement in the abuse of children."

During sentencing, Renwick also received a 12-month extended licence period and an indefinite sexual harm prevention order.

Follow BBC Gloucestershire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.