Mullingar chef jailed for 'encouraging' US teens to produce child abuse images and videos

Tom Tuite

A Westmeath man who "encouraged" teen girls in the United States to "self-produce" hundreds of sexually explicit videos and child sex abuse images has been jailed for two years.

Chef Gary Clavin, 33, of Grange Crescent, Mullingar, admitted that from October 10, 2015, until September 30, 2018, he knowingly encouraged at least four girls aged 14 to 16 in the making of child sex abuse material.

Sentencing, Judge Keenan Johnson noted Clavin had been recognised as having mental health and body image issues, but made significant efforts at rehabilitation through forensic psychotherapy and demonstrated remorse.

At Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court, he said these offences carry significant ignominy in the community, resulting in ostracisation and sex offender obligations to report to gardaí at least four times a year, which was also a punishment.

However, he stressed the harm to the victims, which in this case went on for three years, with the girls encouraged to self-produce the images and videos for Clavin's gratification.

The judge highlighted that it was planned, that the court had to register abhorrence of this type of activity, and that a clear message had to be sent that these crimes attract custodial sentences.

Assessments found Clavin to be at a moderate risk of reoffending.

Mullingar Garda station was contacted in 2018 by colleagues in the online child protection unit based in Harcourt Square, Dublin.

Garda James Grogan said they were alerted to a Facebook account under a different name and linked to two email accounts.

Efforts to trace the user led to the accused's IP address, then to his home. The Facebook profile had obtained sexually explicit images of multiple teenage girls.

The defendant's laptop and mobile phone were examined and found to store 700 to 1,000 images and 30 videos of child sexual abuse material.

He had used a fake account name because he had been "blocked" on Facebook under his own identity.

The girls were believed to be between 14 and 16 years old, and all lived in America.

Chat logs revealed that they produced the videos and images due to his encouragement.

The accused cooperated with the investigation and therapy, and realised his errors, the judge acknowledged.

The charge is under the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act 1998.

The judge heard the man suffered from significantly low self-esteem and weight problems, but had focused on work and was well-educated.

He had set up a false social media profile "with a view to connecting with people", which soon developed to chatting with teen girls. He received "self-produced" child pornography images and videos, and this often arose as a result of his requests.

The offence carries a maximum sentence of 14 years. The judge held that the case was borderline at the lower end of the mid-range and attracted a pre-mitigation punishment of six years. However, taking into account the plea and the defence submission, he reduced it to four years, with the final two years suspended.

On release, he must continue to remain supervised by the Probation Service, continue with therapeutic interventions and not reoffend for five years.

Questioned by John Hayden SC, defending, the garda confirmed that there was no evidence that the man distributed the material.

The defence said the accused, who had no prior convictions, was in his early to mid-twenties at the time.

The garda agreed with the defence that the accused, who is single, had no social life and was introverted with low confidence. The garda said the accused had image issues, and his life revolved around his work routine and attempts to lose weight.

He agreed with Mr Hayden that Clavin did not present as a person of the maturity expected for his age at the time of the offending, and that he would have been "a few years behind".

The court heard that he was highly respected in his work and had shown some insight into his behaviour.

The material was self-taken by the girls during "back and forth" exchanges with the accused, but he knew they were underage, and he encouraged them to send the pictures and videos.

Mr Hayden said his client moved on and "accepts it was all wrong".

If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, you can call the national 24-hour Rape Crisis Helpline at 1800-77 8888, access text service and webchat options at drcc.ie/services/helpline/ or visit Rape Crisis Help.