In 2019, the Offender Database reported that Jordan Parnham, then 23, of Kirkby Close, Pontefract, West Yorkshire, was sentenced to life imprisonment. On 10 October 2019, Parnham appeared at Sheffield Crown Court for what the judge described as crimes that bordered on being unimaginable.
The investigation established that Parnham raped a female toddler and a young boy under the age of eight. He filmed himself raping the toddler and subsequently shared the footage with like-minded individuals on the dark web. The National Crime Agency (NCA) flagged Parnham after he posted online about his intent to live-stream the abuse of a child. South Yorkshire Police raided his former home in Barnsley in February 2019 after tracing his real identity through his online alias. Upon handing over his mobile phone to officers, Parnham admitted there was disgusting material on the device.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
Judge Peter Kelson QC emphasised that he could not conceive of a more serious case, stating that Parnham’s actions were so beyond the pale as to be unthinkable. The court reported that, although no evidence of a live stream was recovered, Parnham conceded he had distributed the recording to others he met on dark web forums. The prosecution emphasised that further enquiries revealed Parnham had also raped a young boy approximately 12 months prior to the incident involving the toddler.
The judge emphasised that Parnham posed a significant and ongoing danger to children. He noted that although a minimum term of eight years was set, this was merely the initial period he would serve before the parole board could even consider the risk he poses to the public. The prosecution emphasised that the victims, whose identities are protected by law, were subjected to shocking levels of violence and exploitation. For his crimes in Barnsley and Pontefract, the court determined that Parnham must be removed from society indefinitely.
Sentence and Statutory Requirements
For his crimes in South Yorkshire, Jordan Parnham was handed:
- Custodial Sentence: Life imprisonment, with a minimum term of eight years to serve before parole eligibility.
- SHPO: A Sexual Harm Prevention Order was imposed to remain in place until further order of the court.
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements are in effect for life.
- Convictions: Admitted raping two children under eight and sharing abuse footage on the dark web.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Parnham is managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) by South Yorkshire Police and the prison estate. Due to the extreme nature of his offending and his use of the dark web to distribute abuse material, his status is under the highest level of scrutiny.
As a lifetime member of the Sex Offenders Register, Parnham will be subject to stringent monitoring if he is ever deemed safe for release. Authorities state that his history of producing and sharing self-generated abuse material makes him a critical risk to children. Any potential future release would be subject to lifelong licence conditions and monitoring by the Public Protection Unit in Pontefract or Barnsley.
If you or anyone you know has been affected by the individuals highlighted on this website, please report them to the Police on 101 (999 in an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details on reporting a crime. You can also report to Crimestoppers if you wish to remain completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.