Berkhamsted paedophile network

In 2016, police discovered a child sex abuse network run from Berkhamsted in Hertfordshire, England. Members of the ring committed serious sexual offences against children, including rape. Eight of them were convicted[1][2] and some received significant prison sentences.

The discovery resulted in a police investigation in 2017 which helped to uncover many other child abusers worldwide.[1]

Operation Pendent

Operation Pendent was a child sex abuse investigation in 2017 into the Berkhamsted network; it was led by Hertfordshire Constabulary, and helped to uncover many other child abusers worldwide.[1] One suspect in the United States was arrested within 48 hours of information being passed to Homeland Security.[1]

Media restrictions

For much of 2017, media reporting on the criminal proceedings members of the network was under reporting restrictions. Restrictions were lifted on 20 December 2017, when six offenders were sentenced.[1][3] A seventh was jailed in February 2018.[4]

Sentences
Perpetrator Conviction(s) Sentence
Michael Emerton (leader)[5] Rape of a child (4 counts), inciting a child to partake in sexual activity (3 counts), conspiring with others to rape or commit sex acts with or in front of a child Nine life sentences[1]
Bruce Child Rape of a child, indecently assaulting a child younger than 16, grooming a 12-year-old child, making indecent photographs of children taken from the internet. 18 years, 6 years concurrently, 3 years[2][6]
Thomas Perry Conspiring to rape a child younger than 13, planning sex acts with a child younger than 13, causing a child to witness sexual activity 14 years[1][3][4]
Paul Stevens Conspiracy to rape a child younger than 13, planning sex acts with a child younger than 13 10 years[1]
Matthew Webby Sexual acts with a child (2 counts), conspiring to rape a child, planning sex acts with a child, possessing indecent images of children 9 years[1]
Robert Lindsay Conspiring to rape a child, planning sex acts with a child, inciting the sexual exploitation of a child, making indecent photographs of a child 7½ years[1][7]
Simon Wintle Sexual activity in front of a child 2½ years[1]
David Overall Accessing and distributing indecent photographs of children 2 years[1][8]

References
  1. "Paedophile ring jailed for online abuse of children". Hertfordshire Constabulary. 21 December 2017. Archived from the original on 31 December 2018. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
    - "Paedophile ring jailed for online abuse of children - Hertfordshire". Crown Prosecution Service. 20 December 2017. Archived from the original on 27 December 2018. Retrieved 26 Dec 2018.
    - "Berkhamsted paedophile ring boss given nine life terms". BBC News. 21 December 2017. Archived from the original on 19 October 2018. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
  2. "Caretaker tried to meet girl, 12, for sex". The Argus. 29 March 2017. Archived from the original on 25 Jan 2019. Retrieved 25 January 2019.
    - "Bexhill pervert jailed for grooming schoolgirl". Bexhill Observer. 29 March 2017. Archived from the original on 29 Mar 2017. Retrieved 25 January 2019.
  3. Clugston, Harriet (21 December 2017). "Five members of 'merciless' Hertfordshire paedophile ring jailed". Hertfordshire Mercury. Archived from the original on 11 March 2018. Retrieved 31 January 2019.
  4. "'Depraved' supermarket boss jailed for web rape plot of young customer". Hemel Today. 20 February 2018. Archived from the original on 20 February 2018. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
    - "Northchurch man sentenced after planning to rape schoolgirl". Mix 96. 20 February 2018. Archived from the original on 31 December 2018. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
  5. "Paedophile ring boss admits more crimes". BBC News. 1 May 2019. Archived from the original on 15 June 2019.
  6. "East Sussex man gets 18-year sentence for child sex offences". Sussex Police. 11 May 2018. Archived from the original on 31 December 2018. Retrieved 26 Dec 2018.
    - "Bexhill man jailed for child sex offences". Bexhill Observer. 10 May 2018. Archived from the original on 10 May 2018. Retrieved 25 January 2019.
  7. Whieldon, Fraser (29 March 2018). "Paedophile to be kept off the streets for two more years". Herts Advertiser. Archived from the original on 11 May 2018. Retrieved 30 December 2018.
    - "Hertfordshire paedophile will spend longer in jail". GOV.UK. 6 March 2018. Archived from the original on 31 December 2018. Retrieved 30 December 2018.
  8. Elvery, Martin (8 October 2017). "Stevenage paedophile admits making and sharing indecent images of children". The Comet. Archived from the original on 6 February 2018. Retrieved 30 December 2018.
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