A SELF-CONFESSED paedophile, who pleaded guilty to having and sharing videos and images that involved young children being raped by adult males, was jailed for 22 months with the final 12 suspended.
Reporting restrictions in respect of the defendant’s identity were lifted by sentencing judge Sinead McMullan at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court, allowing the media to name Kevin Raggett (22), who came before the court with an address at Laurel Villas, South Circular Road, in Limerick.
Judge McMullan described the “horrifying” explicit material found by Gardaí when they searched another address in Limerick where Mr Raggett was residing at the time, just nine days prior to this 18th birthday.
Gardaí discovered 455 videos and images on a mobile phone and two laptops owned by Mr Raggett, then aged 17.
Most of the evidence, including 362 videos and images, was classified as category one material – the highest level of explicit child sexual abuse and rape.
Gardaí classified 93 images as category two, which involved the exposure of children’s genitalia and anal areas.
The judge said some of the material found on the devices included boys “as a young as five or six” being “raped” by adult males.
On Tusla’s radar from an early age
Judge McMullan noted that Mr Raggett’s defence barrister, Antoinette Simon, previously outlined how, “from an early age”, Raggett had been “on the radar” of Tusla, but that “interventions were slow to come online”.
Concerns about Raggett engaging in inappropriate sexual behaviour were flagged with Tusla in 2013 when Raggett was 11. Further concerns were flagged with the agency again in 2015 and 2019.
Tusla eventually contacted Gardai in 2020 after Raggett disclosed to a counsellor that he was “sexually aroused” by young boys.
Gardaí searched the address where Raggett was residing, which was being run by Tusla, on June 4, 2020, seizing his electronic devices.
The court heard Raggett utilised a software programme to delete his internet browsing history as well as sexually explicit images and videos involving children.
The evidence was eventually unearthed after Gardaí used forensic tools Raggett’s electronic devices.
The court heard Raggett used the Tor web browser to search the dark web for child abuse material, and that he had engaged in private chat forums with other paedophiles about sharing images and videos.
He used the Kik messaging platform to distribute two category one videos of the most heinous child sexual abuse and rape, it was heard.
Prosecution barrister John O’Sullivan said Raggett told Gardaí he had started viewing the explicit material “out of morbid curiosity” and “admitted to being sexually aroused while viewing child pornography of this nature”.
“His interaction with graphic child pornography and his openness surrounding his sexual preference for this type of material is a worrying aspect of the case,” said Mr O’Sullivan.
‘Relevant previous convictions’
A pre-sentencing probation report found that Raggett is of high-to-medium risk of reoffending.
The report concluded that Raggett may benefit from supervision and continuous interventions after he is released from prison.
Judge McMullan commended Raggett’s parents for how they had conducted themselves throughout their interactions with the relevant authorities, and for their ongoing support for him.
She said that as Raggett had “relevant previous convictions”, a headline sentence on each count of four years was appropriate.
She reduced each sentence to 22 months with the final 12 months suspended, to run concurrently.
The judge said she had taken into account Raggett’s early guilty plea, his expression of remorse, his cooperation with Gardaí, a “suggestion” that he may have been groomed sexually as a child by unidentified persons, and that he would have been “immature” at the time of offending.
The court placed Raggett on a sex offender’s register for a period of at least 10 years.
Raggett was before the court on a signed guilty plea to one count that he did knowingly distribute child pornography on March 28, 2020, and to one count of knowingly being in possessing of child pornography on June 4, 2020.
The State entered a nolle prosequi on two additional possession charges, and one charge of producing child pornography, after accepting the guilty pleas to the other two counts on a full facts basis.
The court heard that Raggett had three previous convictions for sexual offences which occurred when he was a minor, for which he received a fully suspended 16-month jail sentence at Ennis Circuit Criminal Court, on July 29, 2022.
Judge McMullan said the children in the files found on Raggett’s devices were “real victims”.
She told Raggett: “I do hope you can access help in custody, you are a young man who is intelligent, with a lot going for you, and you have a family that is supporting you, and that will stand to you.”
Raggett’s mother wept and called out to him as he was led away by two prison officers to begin his sentence.
Anyone affected by any of the issues raised in this article can contact Rape Crisis Mid West on 1800 331 511, by email via [email protected]. A 24-hour national helpline is also available on 1800 778 888.
