Man praised for reporting 'depraved' paedophile
Northumbria PoliceA paedophile with the online username "Depraved Nun" has been jailed for three years for sending indecent images of children to other people.
David Elliot, 66, was caught sharing pictures of the sexual abuse when one of the horrified recipients reported him to police, Newcastle Crown Court heard.
Judge Gavin Doig praised the man, who had been duped into believing he was talking to a woman online, for reporting Elliot.
Elliot, from Byker, admitted 12 offences including distributing indecent images of children and possessing abuse images of victims as young as two years old.
Prosecutor David Robinson-Young said a man looking for a female partner believed Elliot was a woman when the pair met on a chat website in June 2023.
His profile picture was a woman and his username was "Depraved Nun", the court heard.
'Believed children in danger'
The pair began exchanging messages and Elliot suggested they meet up at Newcastle's Central Station, the court heard.
Elliot asked the man if he was into "bestiality and snuff", which the man interpreted meant videos of people being tortured and murdered, the court heard.
He then sent the man four images "that deeply concerned" the recipient, Robinson-Young said, and then admitted he was actually a man in his 60s, not a woman as he had portrayed.
Upset at being deceived and "believing children were in danger", the man immediately reported Elliot to Northumbria Police, the court heard.
Officers went to Elliot's home and seized multiple devices, with officers finding logs of discussions about raping children and a stash of 196 indecent images of children, including 55 in the most serious category, the court heard.
The children ranged in age from two to 10 years old, the court heard.
In mitigation, Cainan Lonsdale said Elliot had an isolated life and, without the "checks and balances" provided by other people, his "needs and interests" had become "more and more depraved".
Judge Doig said the man who reported Elliot should be "commended" for his "public-spirited actions" despite the possibility of "potential embarrassment".
The judge said he accepted Elliot had mental health issues and the fact he admitted having a sexual interest in children was an "important first step" towards preventing him committing further such crimes.
Elliot was also ordered to sign the sex offender register for the rest of his life.
