An “extremely dangerous” man who used AI to create child abuse images could be part of a “growing area” of offending, police have warned. Hugh Nelson, 27, was jailed this week for 18 years after his horrific string of offending was laid bare before Bolton Crown Court. He had been using artificial intelligence to turn children’s photographs into horrific abuse images, and detectives say they have been working to identify the youngsters on his devices.
DCI Jen Tattersall, head of GMP’s Online Child Abuse Investigation Team, said: “Nelson is an extremely dangerous man who thought he could get away with what he was doing by using modern technology. “He was wrong and has now felt the full force of the law for his actions. “The use of computer software and AI within online offending is an area we are noticing is growing, but my message to offenders who think creating indecent material in this way means they will not be caught out and relentlessly pursued is to think again.
” Nelson, of Briggs Fold Egerton, was one of the first people in the country to have used artificial intelligence in this way in what has proven to be a landmark case for Greater Manchester Police. The force says that it is now supporting other police forces around the country and that it is vitally important that parents take note of the way technology is changing. DCI Tattersall said: “Hugh Nelson was offending on the ‘clean web’, not the dark web, as is often the misconception with onl.