A Croydon-based IT expert, Robert Chown, 49, has been locked up for 25 years following a National Crime Agency (NCA) probe that revealed his sickening abuse of thousands of children online. Chown pleaded guilty to 41 charges including inciting and recording child sexual abuse and distributing vile images across the dark web.
Global Manhunt Snags Dark Web Paedophile
The NCA exposed how Chown captured disgusting photos and videos of children, sharing them with an international network of paedophiles. His crimes crossed borders, with victims in Europe and the US. The FBI and Europol lent crucial support to the investigation.
In 2019, Chown infiltrated a secret forum called “The Sanctuary,” a hideout for child exploiters. His chilling introduction? “Preferences…girls 8-11.” Over years, he collected hundreds of horrendous images and videos, including an indecent photo of a 12-year-old girl he abused personally. Luckily, she was identified and protected.
Paedophile Posed as Teen to Groom Young Children
Disguised as a teenage boy, Chown targeted kids as young as six. He groomed them to perform live-streamed sex acts, which he recorded and shared with fellow abusers on the dark web.
“Girls and boys as young as six years old were groomed by Chown to live stream sexual acts at his instruction, which he would capture and share with other paedophiles on the dark web.”
Chown Nabbed, Sentenced to Life on Register
Chown was caught at his Croydon home in September 2023. Police seized two phones loaded with over 2,000 indecent images and videos, plus 204 commands for abuse in Russian and Polish.
At Croydon Crown Court, he was sentenced to 25 years behind bars, with seven years on licence. He received a lifetime Sexual Harm Prevention Order and will stay on the sex offenders register for life.
NCA Senior Investigating Officer Phil Eccles said: “Chown poses a significant danger to children. Our investigation uncovered a prolific offender committing vile sexual abuse for years. This case is deeply upsetting, but it shows we won’t let paedophiles hide online.”
Crown Prosecutor Robbie Weber added: “The lifelong trauma victims suffer cannot be overstated. Chown was notorious on the dark web, sharing horrific material with abusers worldwide. Victims of sexual abuse are urged to come forward — you are not alone and help is available.”
