A Sussex man has been sentenced to 13 years in prison after admitting to a series of child sexual offences involving victims across the world.
Ray Lombard, 46, of Croft Road in Crowborough, pleaded guilty to all charges at Lewes Crown Court on 31 October 2025. He was sentenced on Thursday at the same court following an investigation by Sussex Police’s Online Child Abuse Team.
The court heard that Lombard arranged and paid perpetrators to carry out acts of child sexual abuse, which were then livestreamed to him. Among his victims was a child under the age of five in Ukraine, whose mother—a vulnerable woman—was coerced into producing child sexual abuse material at Lombard’s request.
Officers discovered more than 5,000 child abuse images classified as categories A and B on multiple devices seized from Lombard’s home. The devices also contained extreme pornographic images and screen recordings documenting the livestreamed sexual abuse of young children.
Lombard was arrested on 19 March 2024 and charged at Eastbourne Custody Centre on 12 March 2025. His offences included producing and possessing child abuse material, inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity including penetration, and arranging the commission of child sex offences.
He faced three counts of making indecent images of children and eight counts of arranging and facilitating the commission of child sex offences. The investigation revealed he had connected with other distributors of child abuse material online and targeted vulnerable women to exploit their children.
Detective Sergeant David Rose, from the Online Child Abuse Team, described Lombard’s actions as abhorrent. “Lombard’s behaviour was abhorrent and demonstrates the very real dangers posed online by individuals who deliberately seek to groom and sexually exploit children,” he said.
“These crimes represent a profound abuse of trust and a complete disregard for the safety, dignity and wellbeing of some of the most vulnerable members of society.”
DS Rose added that the victims included children under 13 worldwide who were subjected to livestreamed abuse and exploitation. “His devices contained moving images recording the sexual abuse of young children. These children, wherever they are in the world, live with the trauma of the abuse they have suffered,” he said.
The court ordered the destruction of all devices seized during the investigation. A Sexual Harm Prevention Order will be considered at a future date.
DS Rose emphasised that such offending would not be tolerated. “Offending of this nature causes lasting damage not only to the direct victims, but also to families and communities, and it will not be tolerated.”
He added: “The Online Child Abuse Team continues to work tirelessly with our partners to identify and apprehend offenders, disrupt this type of criminal activity, and educate parents and carers on the steps they can take to help keep children safe online.”
