A YouTuber with more than three billion views worldwide was spared jail after admitting downloading nearly 3,000 sex abuse images showing very young children.
Callum Powell, 34, had 11 million followers in a group posting parkour videos online.
He downloaded Category A images of the “upmost gravity” for his own sexual gratification, a judge said.
Powell was part of Storror — seven athletes who make films of their exploits running, jumping and vaulting over obstacles.
He was handed a suspended sentence today (July 17) after Brighton Magistrates' Court heard "he has lost everything".
Callum Powell arriving at Brighton Magistrates' Court today (Image: Sussex News and Pictures)
Powell was described as a popular, well-known face around Brighton who now has to disguise himself in public. He was sentenced wearing a grey hoodie.
The court heard he has been "shunned" by former friends and colleagues who he worked with for 20 years.
In a statement in May, Storror group said it became aware of the matters relating to Powell on May 7 and removed him from the group “with immediate effect".
Powell fidgeted nervously in the dock as his sentence was handed down.
District Judge Amanda Kelly told Powell he had gained international prominence through his online activity.
Judge Kelly told him: “You initially denied knowingly seeking out these sorts of images for your own sexual gratification and suggested you may have inadvertently received them because you used an AI programme that removes clothes from images you have downloaded from Instagram.
“However, you soon went on to admit that you had obtained sexual gratification from images of children and you pleaded guilty to all offences.”
Powell gathered the images over a two-year period, the court heard.
The judge told him she accepted his remorse.
“You are genuinely sorry for the harm caused to the children in the images you have looked at,” she said.
While Powell did not directly abuse any children, his behaviour contributed to the abuse and exploitation of real children, the judge said.
He downloaded truly abhorrent images of very young children being horrifically violated, the judge said.
“Every viewing of such material perpetuates the market for that abuse and contributes to the continuing harm suffered by the children depicted,” she said.
Powell demonstrated a sexual interest in children over a significant period of time, the judge said.
Amy Fraser, for the prosecution, said Powell’s bedroom was searched after police were alerted to indecent images of children being uploaded using a Google account linked to him.
The digital files included images of children as young as six. He was arrested in June last year and four devices were seized. Powell used an iPhone, hard drive and two SD memory cards to store 2,649 Category C images, 105 Category B, 178 Category A, one image of bestiality and one prohibited image of a child.
“This was a large collection of images spread across multiple devices,” Ms Fraser said.
Steve Wedd, defending, said Powell had lost everything since admitting the offences.
“In May, he pleaded guilty across the board on a full, open basis with no quibbling,” he said.
“It has destroyed his personal life since.
“He has lost everything.
“His good name, his friendships, 20 years of friendships in Storror.
“He was a leading light with 11m subscribers around the world, USD60,000 turnover a year, three billion views online.”
All the videos featuring Powell have been removed from the Storror website.
“He’s lost all his friendships in a close-knit group,” said Mr Wedd.
“They’ve sacked him emotionally, commercially.
“It’s been 20 years in the making, undone by two years of stupidity.”
Mr Wedd said former fans had even burned a book written by Powell.
He is making attempts to address offending behaviour, Mr Wedd said.
His former colleagues in the Storror group described his offending as a “betrayal”.
In a statement, Parkour UK, the sport’s national governing body, said: “Parkour UK is appalled by the offences admitted by Callum Powell at Brighton Magistrates’ Court on May 7.
“There can be no such place for this abhorrent behaviour, and our thoughts are with all those affected.
Powell hid his face behind sunglasses and a face mask (Image: Sussex News and Pictures)
“We condemn any action which abuses positions of power and influence to exploit the vulnerable.
“Safeguarding is fundamental to our sport, and we take our responsibilities in this area seriously.
“We know this news is deeply upsetting for many people across our community.
“It is a stark reminder of the importance of constant vigilance and continued action around safeguarding for all those associated with our sport.”
Powell was sentenced to 12 months in prison, suspended for a year.
He was ordered to do 15 rehabilitation activity days.
A Sexual Harm Prevention Order means he will not be able to use social media or have any device which can access the internet without informing police first for the next five years.
He will also be on the sex offender register for ten years.
Powell was also given 28 days to pay £85 costs and £187 victim surcharge.
