‘Evil’ child rapist sentenced to life in prison after being unmasked by technology that depixelated his image

A prolific and “evil” child rapist has been jailed for life after being unmasked by technology that depixelated an image of his face discovered in photos he took of himself abusing his victims.

Martyn Armstrong, from Pembrokeshire, documented himself committing “depraved” acts against three children, including a one-year-old victim, and posted the photos on the dark web.

The 50-year-old man was arrested in July last year after officers developed the tool.

Armstrong pleaded guilty to 41 counts of rape of a child under 13 and sexual assault relating to two victims, as well as making, distributing and possessing indecent images of children in relation to both victims and a third victim.

Sentencing the defendant to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 14 years, Tracey Lloyd-Clarke, the Recorder of Cardiff, said: “The nature and depravity of his offending is shocking.”

Roger Griffiths, prosecuting, told Cardiff Crown Court that Armstrong had taken photographs of himself abusing children between 2005 and 2007, and between December 16, 2009 and February 6, 2011, and admitted taking photographs of a third child on the beach in 2010.

He posted online a series of 200 extremely graphic images and a video under the file name ‘Father Jones’, which show him repeatedly raping his youngest victim.

The series has been known to crime agencies around the world since 2013, as the file was shared and downloaded in 18 countries. The folder was still being shared in the UK in early 2022 on six websites.

Rapist used photoshop to distort himself

Mr Griffiths said Armstrong used Photoshop to put a zigzag distortion on his image but did not disguise the identities of his victims.

Because his face was blurred, investigators were unable to identify the pedophile for nearly a decade, despite attempts by law enforcement partners in Australia, Italy and France.

Mr Griffiths said one image showed the offender’s face with a zig-zag distortion and as a result, in July last year, National Crime Agency (NCA) officers were able to depixelate the defendant’s image in that series using their new tool.

The software was developed by NCA agents in the UK and is the first of its kind to be developed in the world.

Technology is expected to help identify future perpetrators

From the undistorted image, officers were able to identify Armstrong’s Facebook profile, which led to his arrest.

The program is expected to help identify future perpetrators.

Martin Ludlow, of the NCA, said: “I do not believe he (Armstrong) thought he would be caught and that the distortion techniques he used would protect him.

“However, the NCA and our international partners were determined to ensure that their malign actions did not go unpunished.

“Our commitment to identifying him was unwavering and ultimately NCA agents developed an entirely new program that led to his unmasking.”

Armstrong admitted to distributing photos and naming the series Father Jones.

Adam Sharp, defending, said: “Mr Armstrong does not want me to attempt to mitigate the depravity of his actions or the impact they had on his victims.”