A pervert who once lured two boys to his home by claiming he was an agent for casting in a Harry Potter film, has been jailed for three-and-a-quarter years for downloading thousands of child sex abuse images and distributing some of them.

Daniel Delaney walked free with a suspended sentence in April 2009 for child abduction.

Maidstone Crown Court heard he approached two 13-year-old boys in Chatham and told them he was going to a photo shoot for potential casting in the blockbuster films.

Prosecutor Crispian Cartwright said the boys went to Delaney’s flat and he asked them to remove their tops and photographed them bare-chested. He also measured them.

Mr Cartwright said there was nothing in the crime report to suggest there was any sexual touching.

Judge Michael Carroll said if that had happened “it would have made the sentence imposed even more merciful”.

Mr Cartright said the offences made the latest matters highly relevant as 37-year-old Delaney, of Railway Street, Gillingham, had claimed he had no interest in boys.

He admitted six offences of making indecent photographs, 12 of possessing them and two of distributing them. They involved more than 5,000 images and movie clips at various levels of seriousness.

Mr Cartright said Delaney had a device which enabled the pictures to be distributed to others.

There were various chat logs in which he spoke of liking young boys aged eight to 15.

“While people such as yourself are willing to access such filth that will encourage anyone involved in the production of it to carry on doing so" - Judge Michael Carroll

“He said the youngest he had sexual activity with was a 12-year-old,” said the prosecutor. “It suggests a strong sexual interest in boys.”

It was clear Delaney’s predilection for downloading images and films had been going on for at least almost two years.

“It is a sad and degrading situation in which young people are depicted,” said Mr Cartwright.
Judge Michael Carroll described it as a “catalogue of offences” involving the abuse of young children.

“In order for these images to be produced, children have to be abused,” he said. “While people such as yourself are willing to access such filth that will encourage anyone involved in the production of it to carry on doing so.

“This has got to be a large amount of pornographic material. That’s why the sentence will be shown to be a severe one.”

The judge added: “I do not come to the conclusion you fall into the dangerousness category and pose a significant risk of serious harm. It is a close run thing.”

Delaney will remain on the sex offenders’ register and a sexual offences prevention order was imposed.