Paedophile school teacher jailed after FBI investigation uncovers indecent videos of children

The US law enforcement officers joined Durham City CID and the National Crime Agency (NCA) into child sexual abuse linked to Robert Benjamin Johnson as they investigated child pornography.

Today, Friday, October 23, he has been handed a 27-month prison sentence after being found guilty of two charges relating to the distribution of indecent videos of children.

The 38-year-old, of Kells Buildings, in Neville’s Cross, Durham, appeared at Durham Crown Court for sentencing.

During the FBI investigation, agents identified links between Johnson’s home computer IP address and a file sharing site being used to distribute indecent imagery.

This was referred to the NCA who then picked up the investigation alongside Durham Constabulary.

Officers seized a total of 15 electronic devices from Johnson’s home in March last year, with the 19-month investigation covering complex digital examinations and several police interviews.

Pc Anna Pittam, who was commended for her work by Judge James Adkin following the inquiry, said: “It must be reminded that the children sadly involved in these are real children who are victims of sexual abuse.

“Paedophiles regularly use online platforms to share this horrific material, and thankfully on this occasion, we have been able to apprehend and convict the offender of this unthinkable crime.”

Gary Fothergill, of Crown Prosecution Service North East, added: “Robert Johnson made a significant attempt to protect his identity while using a cloud storage site to share indecent videos.

"He employed a number of pieces of sophisticated privacy software, including the use of a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to hide his IP address so that he might try to avoid detection.

“This has been a complex case involving multiple digital devices, ‘dummy’ email addresses and an array of privacy software.

"However, by piecing together the excellent work of Durham Police and digital forensic experts investigating this case, the Crown Prosecution Service has built a robust case to show the chain of links between Johnson and the indecent material shared online.

“I would hope that this case serves as a warning to those involved in criminal online activity that, while you may try to avoid detection, the digital trail you leave may well lead the police to your door.”

Support your Echo and become a subscriber today. Enjoy unlimited access to local news, the latest on SAFC and new puzzles every day. With a digital subscription, you can see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Click here to subscribe.