Callum Powell, 34, a member of the internationally known parkour group Storror, has been spared prison after pleading guilty to making and possessing nearly 3,000 indecent images of children. Powell, who has over 11 million YouTube followers, was sentenced to a 12-month jail term, suspended for a year, at Brighton Magistrates' Court.
He pleaded guilty to three charges of making indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs of a child, one charge of possessing a prohibited image of a child, and one charge of possessing extreme pornographic images portraying a sex act with an animal. In total, he was charged with making or possessing 2,649 category C, 105 category B, and 178 category A indecent images or pseudo-images of children. The images involved children as young as six years old.
Powell initially denied intentionally seeking the images, which spanned a two-year period, attributing their presence to an AI setting that removed clothing from photographs of children without his knowledge. However, he later admitted to obtaining sexual gratification from images of children and pleaded guilty to all offenses. The court heard that the category A images were of the "utmost gravity."
District Judge Amanda Kelly acknowledged Powell's remorse, stating he was "genuinely sorry for the harm caused to the children in the images you have looked at." The judge emphasized that while Powell did not directly abuse any children, his actions contributed to the exploitation of real children and perpetuated the market for such abuse. Powell demonstrated a sexual interest in children over a significant period.
Powell was arrested in June of the previous year after police were alerted to indecent images being uploaded using a Google account linked to him. Four devices were seized, including an iPhone, hard drive, and two SD memory cards, which stored the vast collection of files.
Powell's defense attorney stated that his client had lost everything since admitting the offenses, including friendships and his reputation. The Storror group, which has a significant online following and has been featured in films, has removed videos featuring Powell. His former colleagues described his offending as a betrayal.
Parkour UK, the sport's national governing body, issued a statement condemning Powell's actions and emphasizing the importance of safeguarding within the sport.
In addition to the suspended sentence, Powell was ordered to complete 15 rehabilitation activity days. He is subject to a five-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order, prohibiting him from using social media or any internet-accessible device without police notification. He will also be placed on the sex offender register for 10 years. Powell was also ordered to pay costs and a victim surcharge.