Indefinite jail for child porn ringleader

A Staffordshire paedophile who was second in command of a world-wide internet child abuse ring has been jailed indefinitely for public protection.

Christopher Stubbings, aged 55, who was the treasurer of the newsgroup set up to share child pornography, was told he must serve at least 12 years and six months before even being considered for parole.

Mrs Justice Julia Macur, sitting at Stafford Crown Court, said the parole board would be made aware of the substance of the images "so to appreciate the level of your depravity".

"These images were deplorable and depraved. These children, all of them abused, all of them debased and all of them humiliated.

"I was obliged to view a sample of the images you and your fellow cell members regard to be normal. The images turned my stomach."

She told Stubbings of Crawley Lane, Kings Bromley, near Lichfield: "You do not have any remorse. The risk to children in the future is very high indeed."

Stubbings admitted two offences of arranging or facilitating child pornography, two of arranging or facilitating child sex offences, three of possessing, making and distributing child pornography and an unrelated indecent assault.

Mr David Fresler, prosecuting, said when police raided Stubbings' home, opposite the village school, they found 159,000 images and 1,446 pornographic films involving young children.

One senior officer said he had never come across so many level five (the highest level) films in his career.

Mr Fresler added that the newsgroup used highly sophisticated encryption methods to prevent discovery and Stubbings even used the name Helen.

In 2006 police in Australia managed to infiltrate the group and began monitoring it. It was as a result of this that Stubbings was eventually traced.

Mr Fresler said the international investigation had led to eight abused children being taken into care..

Mr Darron Whitehead, for Stubbings, conceded he would be regarded as a danger to the public.