Eve Kiaba was one of five women sentenced at Cardiff Crown Court for possessing and distributing indecent images
A school cleaner showed a “despicable” video to her colleagues of a toddler being sexually abused, a court heard.
Eve Kiaba and her four friends told police they sent the video to each other as a warning about the sort of material their own children could be accessing online.
Sentencing at Cardiff Crown Court, Judge Eleri Rees described the five women as “naive” and “misguided”.
Prosecutor Jason Howells said the case involved a three-minute video, classified as the most serious Category A indecent image.
He said the film showed a child aged between two and four being sexually abused by an adult male.
The court heard Kiaba was working as a cleaner at a school on January 10 when she showed the video on her phone to co-workers.
Mr Howells said the colleagues reported her to their supervisor, who in turn contacted the police.
Kiaba was arrested at her home in Ely two days later and her phone was seized.
The device was analysed by a high tech crime officer, who found she received the indecent video via messaging service WhatsApp on January 9.
Kiaba told police she had received the file from her friend Annita Nzenzi and described it as a “bad video”.
Mr Howells added: “She stated she was not aware that her actions meant she had committed a criminal offence.”
Nzenzi said she had received the film from her friend Vanessa Shaku about two weeks before Christmas and was “unhappy” about it, but forwarded it on to Kiaba via WhatsApp.
Police arrested Shaku on January 15 and seized her phone, which was found to contain the same Category A image.
She admitted sending it to three friends, claiming she intended to help them protect their own children from such material.
The next day, officers arrested Bola Mputu, who denied getting sexual gratification from the video and said she did not realise it was against the law to possess or distribute such an image.
On January 17, Rose Ngandu was arrested and replied to her caution: “Oh my god, I had that sent to me.”
The court heard none of the women had any previous convictions.
Eve Kiaba, 38, from Addicott Close in Ely, admitted possessing, showing and distributing an indecent image of a child.
Annita Nzenzi, 49, from Penarth Road in Grangetown, admitted possessing and distributing the image.
Rose Ngandu, 40, from Loudon Square in Butetown, admitted one count of possession, five counts of distribution, and one count of possessing of an extreme pornographic image.
Vannessa Shaku, 23, from Caerwent Road in Ely, admitted one count of possession and three of distribution.
Bola Mputu, 38, from Heol Yr Odyn in Caerau, admitted possession and distribution.
Judge Eleri Rees said: “This is an unusual case.”
She described the video as “despicable” and the offending as “clearly unlawful”, but noted the defendants had not asked for the image to be sent to them.
The judge added: “I take the view that it was done naïvely, possibly curiously, and very misguidedly.”
Judge Rees told the court she had read character references and noted the women were described as “valued” and “trusted” members of the Congolese Church.
Ruth Smith, defending Kiaba, said there was a need for education within the community about such offences.
The judge noted the women had spent time in custody and some had lost their jobs.
She said: “The defendants have each paid, and will and will continue to pay, a heavy price for this misjudgment.
Each defendant received a 12-month community order, requiring them to complete 35 days of a rehabilitation activity, and they must each pay an £85 victim surcharge.
Judge Rees said: “They can be educated as to the dangers of these kinds of images and how distribution plays its part in encouraging more children to be sexually abused.”
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/school-cleaner-showed-colleagues-despicable-12676726
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