Man used AI to make indecent child images

Hugh Nelson was using a computer programme to transform images of real children

A man who used AI technology to create indecent images of children is due to be jailed in a “landmark case”, police have said.

Hugh Nelson, 27, admitted 11 offences at Bolton Crown Court on Friday, including attempting to incite a boy under 16 to engage in a sexual act, three counts each of the distribution and the making of indecent images, one count of possessing prohibited images, and three other offences.

He also admitted publishing an obscene article and distributing indecent “pseudo photographs” of children in July 2023. Sentencing is set for 25 September.

Det Con Carly Baines, from Greater Manchester Police (GMP), said it was “particularly unique and deeply horrifying” that Nelson had transformed “normal everyday photographs” of real children into indecent imagery.

“This case is a first in our area and is a landmark case nationally,” she said.

Nelson, of Briggsfold Road, Bolton, was “engaging in depraved sexualised chat online about children" and distributing the images online for free and payment, GMP said.

Det Con Baines said the operation into his crimes had "gone global", with further arrests and safeguarding referrals made in various cities and countries across the UK and world".

GMP described the case as a "real test of legislation" that Det Con Baines hoped would “play a role in influencing what future legislation looks like”, since "using computer programmes in this particular way is so new to this type of offending and isn’t specifically mentioned within current UK law”.

'Dark corners of the internet'

Jeanette Smith, from the Crown Prosecution Service, said the “misuse of emerging technology to create this material is a serious crime”.

“In some instances, children who have already suffered abhorrent sexual abuse are having their image used again to recreate new abuse scenarios upon the request and demand from dark corners of the internet.”

The National Crime Agency previously said abuse imagery generated by AI "matters, because we assess that the viewing of these images - whether real or AI-generated - materially increases the risk of offenders moving on to sexually abusing children themselves".