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A man who used artificial intelligence to create child sexual abuse imagery has been sentenced to 18 years in prison in a landmark UK deepfake prosecution.
Hugh Nelson, 27, from Bolton, admitted to a total of 16 child sexual abuse offenses that including transforming everyday photographs of real children into sexual abuse material using AI tools from US software provider Daz 3D.
He also admitted selling and exchange “computer-generated images” and “discuss child sexual abuse with others” in an “encrypted chatrooms”.
Those within the chatrooms Nelson used to “accepted requests from individuals” and “create explicit images depicting children” in an abusive way. Then, later “sold in exchange for money or shared to others for free”. A statement from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) explains further on this.
Nelson admitted over the 18-month period he made £5,000 from selling these images.
The CPS initially brought five charges against Nelson after he was first arrested in June 2023 by Greater Manchester Police. His devices were sized for further investigation.
After Greater Manchester Police finished, further examination over his devices. The CPS charged Nelson with 11 additional offences on 27 February 2024.
In a scrutiny of the further investigation from the Greater Manchester Police, Nelson exchanged messages on chatrooms on three different occasions to commit offences against children under 13.
Jeanette Smith, Specialist Prosecutor for the CPS, added: “It is particularly disturbing that through his online discussions, Nelson exchanged messages capable of encouraging adults to inflict horrifying sexual abuse on young children, all for his own sexual gratification.”
Carly Baines, Detective Constable for Greater Manchester Police added: “This case is a first in our area, and is a landmark case nationally, as technology continues to develop, grow, and become more frequently used for a variety of reasons.”
Heidi Kempster, Deputy CEO of the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF), added: “This is a landmark moment which should sound the alarm. Criminals like Nelson are now capable of churning out some of the most appalling criminal imagery of children being sexually abused.”
Furthermore added, “Our job finding and removing this material is made more difficult by offenders like this. The material can be so life-like, there would be no difference between it and real photographs or videos to most people viewing it.”
It is worth noting that, The CPS has dedicated Organised Child Sexual Abuse Unit where they deal with complex, sensitive or detailed child sexual abuse cases. It also has trained prosecutors where they work closely with the police to resolve a case to make sure there are fairness of justice.
Previously, a Melbourne man was sentenced to prison for creating child abuse images with AI, the first conviction of its kind in Australia.