A shocking case has come to light as Thomas Rowley, 43, of Old School Lane, Creswell, has been sentenced for using artificial intelligence (AI) to generate over 1,900 indecent still images of children. Nottingham Crown Court handed Rowley a two-year suspended sentence on Tuesday (27 May) after he pleaded guilty to multiple charges.
Nottinghamshire Police discovered 882 category A images, the most severe classification, among the 1,900 images found on Rowley’s devices. Additionally, 532 category B and 557 category C images were uncovered during the investigation.
The images were a disturbing mix of AI-generated content based on Rowley’s prompts and indecent images downloaded from the internet. Rowley admitted to three counts of making indecent pseudo-photographs of children between January 9, 2021, and January 9, 2024, along with possessing 21 prohibited images of children at the time of his arrest.
As part of his sentence, Rowley is subject to a five-year sexual harm prevention order, restricting his online activities and requiring him to register any devices with the police. He has also been placed on the sex offender’s register for the next ten years.
PC Summer Smith, from Nottinghamshire Police’s public protection team, emphasized the gravity of such crimes, stating, “We take these types of crimes very seriously and will always do everything we can to protect vulnerable young people.” She highlighted that the use of AI in this context is treated with equal severity to traditional methods of abuse.
This case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by technology in the wrong hands and reinforces the commitment of law enforcement to pursue justice in cases of child exploitation.