In 2019, the Offender Database reported that Keith Alfred Jacobs, then 57, of Heddon View, Ryton, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, was handed an extended 26-year prison sentence at Durham Crown Court. Keith Alfred Jacobs was convicted of “vile and depraved” offending after filming himself raping a child and distributing the footage to an international network. Authorities in Toronto, Canada, initiated the investigation. Through geolocation research and digital forensics, the Durham Police traced the source to the former home of Jacobs in Shotton Colliery, County Durham.
The court heard that Keith Alfred Jacobs initially tried to dismiss his actions as a “moment of madness.” Still, forensic examiners later unearthed footage described as the worst material they had encountered. A key piece of evidence linking Keith Alfred Jacobs to the crimes was a gold ring he wore in the films, which he later gave away to conceal incriminating evidence. Prosecution counsel Chris Baker detailed how Jacobs had also downloaded thousands of other indecent images of children to satisfy his predatory interests.
Keith Alfred Jacobs pleaded guilty to rape, two other sexual offences, and the making, possession, and distribution of indecent images of a child. Psychiatric evaluations revealed that Jacobs suffered from narcissistic or borderline personality disorders, with the judge noting his “cunning and deceitfulness.” Judge Christopher Prince sentenced Keith Alfred Jacobs to a 20-year custodial term with an additional six-year extended license period, designating him as a “dangerous offender” considered to pose a high risk of future harm.
As a result of his convictions, Keith Alfred Jacobs is on the Sex Offenders Register for life. Under the terms of his extended sentence, Jacobs must serve at least two-thirds of his 20-year prison term before he can be considered for parole. He will be managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) by Durham Police and Northumbria Police, remaining under supervision for the duration of his life.
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