A Hampshire police investigation, initially focused on the creation of intimate images of women, has led to the discovery of a global network used to market child sexual abuse material online. The case began in January 2024 after a woman reported that her wedding photographs had been digitally altered to make her appear naked or in lingerie.
Police identified Ethan Orchard, 30, of Southsea, as responsible. During their inquiries, officers uncovered a website where more than a million child sexual abuse images had been shared. Orchard was sentenced to three years and four months in prison after pleading guilty to three counts of sharing intimate images for sexual gratification and one count of encouraging an offence.
Hampshire Police alerted the FBI to the website in February 2024. The site was later seized by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement as part of a separate international investigation. US investigators discovered it was also being used to advertise child sexual abuse material and connect buyers with sellers. Authorities seized over 1.1 million child sexual abuse images and identified more than 50 victims across the United States, Canada, Australia, and the UK.