Backlash as transgender paedophile is spared jail: Peer demands review of sentence | Daily Mail Online

A transgender paedophile has avoided jail because he feels scared about how he would manage. Despite being caught with thousands of the most vile child abuse images, because he now identifies as a woman the judge suspended his sentence. A review has been ordered by a UK Tory.

Baroness Nicholson is demanding action over the case of Peter Selby, who was caught with more than 125,000 child abuse images, including more than 2,400 that were classed as Category A, the most obscene.

Selby, 68, amassed the vile pictures and videos over a decade using internet search terms such as ‘pre teen’ and ‘jail bait’, and the collection featured pictures of children as young as three.

The paedophile, who was born male, admitted three charges of making indecent images of children and one of possessing extreme pornography, which involved an adult engaged in bestiality.

But the judge at Newcastle Crown Court was told that the paedophile was fearful about trying to manage in prison.

Instead of receiving the maximum ten-year prison sentence he was let off with a suspended sentence.

The judge was satisfied his attempts to seek counselling would be enough to ensure he was ‘manageable in the community’. All he had to do was sign the the Sex Offenders Register and abide by a ten-year sexual harm prevention order.

Conservative peer Baroness Nicholson responded to public outrage and ordered a review.

She said it demonstrated a ‘disregard’ for child safety and questioned whether the judge had ‘overlooked’ child protection in giving the suspended sentence, which allowed Selby to remain in the community. Baroness Nicholson said: ‘We have a monstrous track record on child abuse, child pornography and child trafficking today.

‘The State is a poor parent and this case demonstrates to me – and I am sure to others – a level of disregard for children that goes aggressively against the law, our customs and practice. I feel very strongly indeed about this.’

Several other complaints have also been made to the Attorney General, Suella Braverman.

Binary spokeswoman, Kirralie Smith, said the situation was a disgrace.

“What kind of message does this send? What kind of precedent does it set to allow a male claim to be female to avoid jail, despite committing horrendous offences?

“The courts should be relied upon to weigh evidence, not feelings when it comes to dealing out justice.”