Ex army sergeant jailed over child abuse

An ex army sergeant from Denbigh who directed films of child sex abuse over his computer has been jailed for five years.

52 year old Michael Charnley from The Colomendy Estate sat in the front room of his home and gave directions about what should happen next as children were abused on the other side of the world, believed to be in The Philippines.

He sent money – about £20 a time - on line to tell adults what to do to the victims, who were all children under 13 - one as young as 2 years old.

North Wales Police, who work with other law enforcement agencies around the world to catch such people, knocked on his door early one morning last September.

They found 10,000 images and 356 videos of child sex abuse – some of them involved the worst kind imaginable.

But they also found web logs – his written directions over the internet over what sort of child abuse should happen next.

They corresponded to the films found by police which he had effectively directed live through his web cam.

This morning (2nd March) in what is the first case of its kind in North Wales, and possibly in the UK, Charnley was jailed for five years.

He was ordered to register with the police as a sex offender for life.

And a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) was made in a bid to control his activities on the internet in future was made for life.

Shamed Charnley, who initially denied that he gained any sexual enjoyment from his exploits but who now says he wants treatment, wept openly in the dock when he was sentenced.

Charnley admitted 17 offences of making child sex videos with 31 similar offences taken into consideration, two charges of possessing the images, and four of the more serious charges of inciting children to engage in sexual activity – which carries a maximum life sentence.

Judge Phillip Hughes described it as “A case of serious sexual abuse in which you were directly involved by proxy."

Brian Treadwell, defending, said that his client had been candid with police, was a broken man who was ashamed and remorseful, who now wanted to attend sex offender treatment programmes while he was in custody.

He served for 22 years in the British army and was discharged at the rank of sergeant having been decorated on a number of occasions.

Police said later that the case should act as a deterrent for others who may be tempted.

The officer in the case, Detective Constable Sean Woods said later that children in any country were the most vulnerable members of society.

“They must be protected from predatory individuals who sexually abuse them,” he said.

“North Wales Police, working with law enforcement agencies around the world, are committed to identify and prosecute the perpetrators of such crimes.

“This action is necessary as society demands that children are protected from these crimes and offenders are put before the courts to account for their actions.”