A Penyrheol paedophile, Jordan Waddon, detected on the dark web was apprehended with thousands of images and videos of child sexual abuse.
Officers from the National Crime Agency recognised the aliases of multiple members of the dark web site ‘The Camp Fire.’ By utilising the users’ IP addresses, their identities were ascertained. One of the individuals was Jordan Waddon.
Police officers searched Jordan Waddon’s home – in Pen Y Bryn in Penyrheol, Caerphilly – on the morning of October 15, 2020.
“Mr Jordan Waddon made admissions from the word go,” prosecutor Nigel Fryer said.
Thousands of child sexual abuse images were discovered across three laptops which were recovered.
Of the material found, 236 pictures and 89 videos of the most serious level of abuse – Category A – were discovered, along with more than 1,000 pictures and videos in Category B and 3,589 pictures and 17 videos in Category C.
“He understood what the dark web was. He understood what ‘The Camp Fire’ was for,” said Mr Fryer.
“He said he had been using the dark web as long ago as 2014.”
Claire Wilks, defending, said Jordan Waddon was “led astray” by other dark web users exploiting him at a young age.
“The defendant himself was initially a child victim who was exploited himself,” she said. “He was groomed.
“It’s rather a sad state of affairs.”
She added that Jordan Waddon, now 24, had not reoffended since his arrest in 2020.
Judge Neil Bidder described Jordan Waddon as living “an isolated existence”.
He sentenced Jordan Waddon to a 24-month community order, 40 days rehabilitation activity requirement, 120 hours of unpaid work, and must complete Maps for Change work.
He was made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order and must register as a sex offender – both for five years.
“If you break this order, it’s prison. It’s that simple,” the judge warned Jordan Waddon.
If you or anyone you know have been affected by the people highlighted in this article, then please report those individuals to the Police on 101 (999 if an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details of the options for reporting a crime. You can also make a report at Crimestoppers should you wish to be completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.