In 2019, then 32-year-old Christian Brett-Hazell, of The Lawn, St Leonards, admitted to a predatory series of assaults against child safety by downloading a collection of indecent images. The investigation established that Brett-Hazell possessed 12 prohibited images of children, including five at Category A—the most serious level of abuse. The prosecution reported at Hove Crown Court that the defendant also admitted to possessing an extreme pornographic image depicting a sexual act with an animal, identifying a total abandonment of human decency.
The investigation established that Brett-Hazell’s series of behaviour spanned three years, with the illicit downloads occurring between February 2015 and February 2018. The prosecution reported that during the hearing, which was conducted via Facetime due to the defendant being in rural Scotland for a work-related driving course, he pleaded guilty to four distinct charges. This identifies a calculated series of assaults where Brett-Hazell utilized digital platforms to access and store depraved material while maintaining a professional exterior.
JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS AND SENTENCING
The court reported that the hearing was initially delayed due to a “mix-up” outside the defendant’s control, which prevented his physical attendance. The investigation established that Judge Christine Laing QC utilized modern technology to ensure the plea was entered, despite Brett-Hazell being hundreds of miles away. The prosecution reported during the hearing on 21 May 2019, that the case was adjourned for a pre-sentence report to be compiled, identifying a priority assault by the judiciary to assess the risk he posed to children and the community.
Judge-led proceedings at Hove Crown Court concluded in 2019. For his actions in St Leonards and the nature of the series of indecent images and extreme pornography investigations reported, Christian Brett-Hazell was convicted of four counts. The investigation established that his forensic profile involved the most severe category of child abuse imagery. He has been legally mandated to the Sex Offenders Register.
STATUS AND STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS (2019)
Based on judicial and Sussex Police records as of 2019:
- Legal Status: CONVICTED (Possession of indecent images of a child Category A, B, and C; Possession of extreme pornography).
- Custodial Status: SENTENCING PENDING (In 2019, following pre-sentence report).
- Offence Nature: Downloaded Category A (most serious) images of children; Possessed bestiality imagery.
- Timeline of Abuse: February 2015 to February 2018 (A three-year series of assaults).
- Location: The Lawn, St Leonards-on-Sea, East Sussex.
- Forensic Profile: Admitted to 5 Category A images, 1 Category B image, and 6 Category C images.
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements are active.
- DBS Status: Placed on the Barred List (Indefinite and permanent ban from any role involving children or regulated activity).
- Judicial Oversight: Sentenced at Hove Crown Court; investigated by Sussex Police.
- Criminal Record: Convicted paedophile; Series predator; Digital offender; Convicted in 2019.
- Origin: St Leonards, East Sussex.
MONITORING AND PUBLIC PROTECTION
In 2019, Brett-Hazell was managed as a high-risk offender under the statutory requirements of the Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) in East Sussex. Due to the nature of the behaviour—specifically the series of persistence in downloading the most severe category of abuse images over several years—he is a priority for digital forensic monitoring. Authorities reported that the 2019 conviction identifies Brett-Hazell as an individual who prioritised his own perverted gratification over the principles of human decency and the life-safety of children.
As a registered sex offender, his details are permanently logged on the national police database to prevent future offences. Authorities stated that the behaviour of Brett-Hazell identifies a series of commitment to clandestine digital exploitation and extreme deviancy. Any future attempt to assault his notification requirements or access unmonitored devices results in immediate police intervention to ensure the ongoing protection of the community from a man who used a “St Leonards resident” mask to hide a predatory and persistent series of assaults.
QUESTION – Given that the offender was able to “download Category A images” for three years before being detected, do you believe the law should legally mandate that “All Internet Service Providers” must use “Automatic Real-Time Detection AI” to report any series of assaults involving child abuse images directly to the police?
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