A 21-year-old man from Carlisle, Eli Crook, has been sentenced for a series of grave sexual offences involving child abuse material and depraved online communications. Crook's activities came to light following a police investigation that uncovered his extensive collection of illegal images and videos on his personal devices.
Crook admitted to eleven offences at Carlisle Crown Court, including downloading 1,863 Category A child abuse images—the most serious classification—1,771 Category B indecent images, and 4,560 Category C images. He also pleaded guilty to possessing two prohibited child images, nine extreme pornographic images, three counts of distributing indecent child images, attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, and publishing obscene material. The material on his laptop and Samsung phone included horrific videos of babies as young as three months old being raped and screaming in pain, alongside images of toddlers being abused.
- Downloading 1,863 Class A child abuse images
- Downloading 1,771 Category B indecent child images
- Downloading 4,560 Category C indecent child images
- Two counts of possessing prohibited child images
- Possessing nine extreme pornographic images
- Three counts of distributing indecent child images
- Attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child
- Publishing obscene material
Prosecutors detailed how Crook's offending was detected through advanced police technology just before his initial arrest on 31 October 2022. Despite being released on bail while devices were examined, Crook was rearrested nearly a year later for continuing to access abuse images. Online chats revealed his enthusiastic discussions with like-minded individuals, where he professed to 'love being a paedo' and fantasised about raping and killing babies. In one conversation, he expressed a wish to have a daughter so he could abuse her daily.
Defence barrister Gerard Rogerson highlighted Crook's genuine remorse, as assessed by a probation officer, and noted his diagnosis on the autistic spectrum with co-occurring anxiety and depression. Described as academically bright but socially isolated due to school bullying, Crook's descent began with class A drug use, including cocaine, leading to disinhibited behaviour. He started with images of petite adult women before progressing to extreme child sexual abuse material. Rogerson described the images as 'appalling, depraved, horrific' and emphasised Crook's self-disgust post-arrest, suggesting rehabilitation over indefinite punishment to protect the public.
Judge Michael Fanning acknowledged the severity of the offences, comparing Crook's path to that of disgraced musician Ian Watkins, who received 29 years for child sex offences. The judge noted Crook's immaturity, autism, isolation, and drug history—from cannabis at age 14 to harder substances like ketamine and amphetamines. Balancing punishment with public protection, Judge Fanning imposed a two-year custodial sentence, suspended for two years, with requirements for 25 rehabilitation activity days, a 26-session 'Building Better Choices' course, and six months of electronic monitoring. Crook was placed on the Sex Offender Register and under a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for ten years. 'It’s in your gift to change your life – and I have given you the chance to do so,' the judge told him.
The case was heard at Carlisle Crown Court, with Cumbria Police leading the investigation into Crook's online activities from his home in Denton Holme.