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'Grubby' paedophile Michael Eller jailed for directing filmed rapes | 'Grubby' paedophile Michael Eller jailed for directing filmed rapes |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A paedophile who directed filmed rapes of young children live on the internet has been jailed for 14 years. | A paedophile who directed filmed rapes of young children live on the internet has been jailed for 14 years. |
Michael Eller, 67, set up a Skype link from his Hertfordshire home to instruct adults in the Philippines to rape and abuse young girls. | Michael Eller, 67, set up a Skype link from his Hertfordshire home to instruct adults in the Philippines to rape and abuse young girls. |
Others paid to watch the broadcasts, St Albans Crown Court heard. | Others paid to watch the broadcasts, St Albans Crown Court heard. |
Judge John Plumstead said victims "will spend their whole lives knowing that, for the pleasure of grubby paedophiles, they have undergone abuse". | Judge John Plumstead said victims "will spend their whole lives knowing that, for the pleasure of grubby paedophiles, they have undergone abuse". |
He added: "The cold-hearted cruelty of it is beyond comprehension." | He added: "The cold-hearted cruelty of it is beyond comprehension." |
Eller, of the Hilltop Estate, in Berkhamsted, pleaded guilty to five charges of arranging sex offences involving children from three years old to their early teens. | Eller, of the Hilltop Estate, in Berkhamsted, pleaded guilty to five charges of arranging sex offences involving children from three years old to their early teens. |
The grandfather also admitted possessing indecent photographs of a child and breaching a sexual offences prevention order. | The grandfather also admitted possessing indecent photographs of a child and breaching a sexual offences prevention order. |
'Overcome with disgust' | 'Overcome with disgust' |
Judge Plumstead said Eller, a married man, had shown no sign of remorse and had failed to understand the gravity of his crimes. | Judge Plumstead said Eller, a married man, had shown no sign of remorse and had failed to understand the gravity of his crimes. |
"How any sane human being can direct the rape of children without being overcome with disgust is beyond me," said the judge. | "How any sane human being can direct the rape of children without being overcome with disgust is beyond me," said the judge. |
The court heard how the retired financial director paid the adults about $30 (£18) to rape and abuse the children. | The court heard how the retired financial director paid the adults about $30 (£18) to rape and abuse the children. |
He would type out instructions on what he wanted them to do while his unsuspecting wife was elsewhere in the house. | He would type out instructions on what he wanted them to do while his unsuspecting wife was elsewhere in the house. |
Eller was already the subject of a sex offender prevention order following an August 2012 case where he pleaded guilty to five counts involving indecent images of children. | Eller was already the subject of a sex offender prevention order following an August 2012 case where he pleaded guilty to five counts involving indecent images of children. |
He had to register as a sex offender for five years. | He had to register as a sex offender for five years. |
In February, police installed software on his computer to monitor his use. | In February, police installed software on his computer to monitor his use. |
'Unspeakably vile' | 'Unspeakably vile' |
Prosecutor Michael Speak said that in September, officers from the Hertfordshire Police found him using Skype to talk to a naked woman in the Philippines who was with a naked girl aged about 10 to 12 years old. | Prosecutor Michael Speak said that in September, officers from the Hertfordshire Police found him using Skype to talk to a naked woman in the Philippines who was with a naked girl aged about 10 to 12 years old. |
"The typed conversation indicated that the defendant was instructing the female to commit sexual offences against this young girl," he said. | "The typed conversation indicated that the defendant was instructing the female to commit sexual offences against this young girl," he said. |
Officers discovered him using the system for a similar purpose in October and he was arrested. | Officers discovered him using the system for a similar purpose in October and he was arrested. |
The prosecutor said the defendant wrongly assumed the software only monitored images saved on the hard drive and not live streaming. | The prosecutor said the defendant wrongly assumed the software only monitored images saved on the hard drive and not live streaming. |
Eller admitted to police he had given instructions for the abuse. | Eller admitted to police he had given instructions for the abuse. |
Judge Plumstead said Eller was a "serious risk to children" and said arranging the abuse for his own gratification was "unspeakably vile". | Judge Plumstead said Eller was a "serious risk to children" and said arranging the abuse for his own gratification was "unspeakably vile". |
He was made the subject of a 20-year sexual offences prevention order and will be on the sex offenders' register for life. | He was made the subject of a 20-year sexual offences prevention order and will be on the sex offenders' register for life. |
Speaking after the case, Det Sgt Sarah Corr said the case proved monitoring of offenders worked. |