Heathfield man jailed for AI-generated child sexual abuse images

A Heathfield man has become one of the first people in Sussex to be sentenced for creating artificial intelligence (AI)-generated child sexual abuse material, following an investigation by Sussex Police. James Castell, 40, of High Street, Heathfield, was arrested in October 2024 after officers linked him to the online distribution of an indecent image of […]

A Heathfield man has become one of the first people in Sussex to be sentenced for creating artificial intelligence (AI)-generated child sexual abuse material, following an investigation by Sussex Police.

James Castell, 40, of High Street, Heathfield, was arrested in October 2024 after officers linked him to the online distribution of an indecent image of a child believed to have been created using AI technology.

Officers from Sussex Police’s Online Child Abuse Team (OCAT) carried out a search of Castell’s address, where a number of digital devices were seized. An examination of the devices revealed more than 3,800 indecent images of children, including 640 Category A images — the most serious classification.

Category A images depict penetrative sexual activity, bestiality and/or sadism. Police said the material found spanned a date range going back as far as 2016.

Investigators also discovered AI software capable of generating images from text prompts, alongside evidence showing Castell had distributed the original AI-generated indecent image. Further online searches indicated a sexual interest in children.

Castell was charged with three counts of possession of an indecent or pseudo-photograph of a child, possession of a prohibited image of a child, and distributing an indecent or pseudo-photograph of a child.

He appeared at Hastings Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, 8 October, where he pleaded guilty to all charges.

At Lewes Crown Court on Friday, 19 December, Castell was sentenced to 18 months in prison, suspended for two years. He was also made subject to a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order, placing strict controls on his use of digital devices and access to children.

In addition, he will be placed on the Sex Offenders Register for ten years and ordered to complete rehabilitation activity and 240 hours of unpaid community work.

Detective Chief Inspector Luke Kyriakides-Yeldham said:
“Every child sex abuse image created or shared fuels this despicable industry, and James Castell has shown absolutely no regard for children’s safety in pursuit of his own gratification.

“The scale of his offending, and wider online activity, shows an offender with a committed sexual interest in children as young as three years old.

“Artificial intelligence is a rapidly evolving technology, and cases such as this show criminals will use AI for their own ends.

“Make no mistake, the use of AI to create indecent images of children is an offence. We are working hard with our partners to identify those creating and distributing these images, and we will take robust action against perpetrators.”