Jonathan Kumar, a Bolton Paedophile who ‘virtually’ exploited youngsters over a live web connection to the Philippines from his residence in Bolton, asserted that he was ‘lonely’.
Jonathan Kumar accessed paedophile websites to interact with the moms of children located 6,600 miles away, as presented in court. The 38-year-old subsequently participated in illicit sexual conduct with them and their minor daughters.
Jonathan Kumar engaged in distorted interactions from his bedroom, simulating sexual intercourse with minors who were coerced into participating online via a webcam. Bolton Crown Court was informed that he was apprehended in August 2023 following police investigations that connected him to the websites.
Officers seized a number of his electronic devices and found a recording in which he asked the mother of a nine-year-old girl, ‘Why is she angry, baby? I’m going to rape her. He then carried out a sex act as the youngster was forced to simulate a sexual action.
Another girl exposed herself and was instructed to carry out sex acts. When quizzed by police, Jonathan Kumar said: “Yes, I’ve been stupid.”
A total of 20 videos or images were found – ten of which he recorded. None of the eight victims involved in the abuse, aged between eight and 13, could be traced.
Jonathan Kumar, whose late father worked as a doctor, claimed he had been ‘lonely’ at the time due to being kept at home by the Covid-19 lockdown. The court heard that he came from a ‘relatively wealthy background’ and was ‘extremely fortunate’ to have his family’s support still.
Prosecuting Tara Riley said: “Many devices were seized from his home, including two Samsung phones and a Dell laptop, and they were all examined after the defendant provided the PINs. One phone showed indecent images and movies of children, which the handset’s owner took.
“There were social media chats in which the handset’s owner communicated with the children and parents of the children. In one moving image, a child was seen removing her clothing, showing her breasts and genital area.
“Another showed a picture of a child of 12 holding her nipples. There was a video call recording where the defendant spoke to the mother of a child aged between nine and 11.
“The mother says the child is angry, and the defendant asks, ‘Why is she angry baby – I’m going to rape her’. The period of the abuse was between September 2022 and August 2023.
“The children were particularly vulnerable and were subjected to the abuse in the presence of their mothers. They were likely to be involved in commercial exploitation.”
Mitigating, paedophile lawyer Rachel White said: “He is a much-loved member of his family, and there is a different side to him. Although he was involved in persistent online communication, no money was exchanged.
“He fully accepts the disgusting nature of the shocking and highly harmful offences. He is an individual who comes from a loving, supportive family, and he has been successful in his education and work.
“But his father became ill, and for three years, he cared for his father until he died in 2012. He has a close relationship with his mother, who is now 80, and initially, he continued to live with her – and when he bought his property, he would regularly visit her.
“But the pandemic caused a complication in the personal circumstances of Mr Jonathan Kumar, who was on his own at home and was restricted from visiting his mother. He became increasingly lonely and began to communicate with women online for sexual purposes.
“That behaviour escalated, as he candidly admits when he became somewhat removed or disassociated with what he was doing because these were people in a foreign land appearing via a screen. Jonathan Kumar now fully appreciates that these were very real children and that his behaviour would have significantly impacted them when he made the unspeakable requests that he did.
“Jonathan Kumar is ashamed and disgusted at what he did, and he says no child deserves to experience this type of abuse. He became visibly upset when talking about these matters to probation officers.”
Jonathan Kumar, who had one previous conviction for drink-driving in 2009, admitted to inciting girls under 13 to engage in penetrative sexual activity and making indecent pictures. Sentencing, Judge Abigail Hudson told him: “The reality is these are children being defiled for your sexual gratification.
“Their caregivers are likely to be desperate or abusive people who are unwilling or unable to protect those children. They are, therefore, extremely vulnerable, and the damage you have caused them is immeasurable.
“You are from a relatively wealthy background and had all the opportunities you could have wished for in life including a devoted and supportive family. But you put yourself in the position you are in today because you did not seek help and engaged in this behaviour.
“You knew it was wrong but did not seek help. You are extremely fortunate that your family see the other side of you and they continue to love and support you.”
Jonathan Kumar, of Kinloch Drive, Bolton, was jailed for six and a half years. He was also ordered to sign the sex offenders’ register for life and will have to abide by the terms of a sexual harm prevention order.
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