Former sex offender explains how porn addiction led him to sickening corners of dark web
Warning: This article contains discussions which some readers may find distressing.
A former sex offender has opened up on how a porn addiction led him to disturbing sites on the dark web and how he started viewing porn when he was as young as seven, as the UK plans to be the first country in the world to make it impossible for children to take, share or view nude images.
'Bradley' explained to LADbible that he started watching porn from an early age, and when he was in his 20s he started viewing indecent images of children.
He said that as a child if he was interested in a subject he would explore it thoroughly, so when he discovered porn he found it 'so new and exciting' and 'drew him in very quickly'.
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"While still in primary school, I had already seen bestiality, transsexual porn, scat porn such as two girls one cup, and gore such as one man one jar, those extreme internet viral sensations of the early 2000s," Bradley said.
"To begin with, this wasn't about sexual gratification, I was still too young to have erections, know how to masturbate or even ejaculate, it was a curiosity, a chase for novelty."
"Porn had made me impatient"
As he got older he thought the things he'd seen in porn were normal and he tried convincing others his own age to do them.
He had his first sexual experience at the age of nine, adding that as he became a teenager his sex drive increased and he put pressure on himself to try and do the things he'd seen online.
"I felt like everyone was having sex and I was missing out," he said.
"Porn had made me impatient. I didn't want to wait for a relationship. I didn't want to earn someone's respect and trust. That didn't happen in porn, so why should it happen to me?"
Though he said he felt like a 'weirdo' and a 'monster', he 'buried that deep' and when he was around 15 the release of Snapchat 'quickly became an addictive way for me to talk to more girls my age'.
He said: "I was instantly met with the affection and attention that I was craving. I quickly came to believe that this was how you got girls."
"It didn't sit well with me, but it didn't stop me"
By the time he got to university he heard people talking about the dark web, and when he asked about it he was told it was 'a place to find drugs, weapons, hitmen and illegal porn'.
Initially hesitant, he eventually went onto the dark web and his porn use 'skyrocketed' with him reckoning he spent about eight hours a day on there, and started viewing illegal pornography.
"It wasn't long before the porn I was watching became repetitive and dull, so I crossed the boundary and went searching for extreme and illegal porn," Bradley explained.
"It didn't sit well with me, but it didn't stop me."
He'd feel disgusted with himself and promise he was going to stop, but within a few hours he was back online and considered it 'my own way of self-harm'.
"In the moment that I was arrested, I was relieved"
Speaking of the illegal things he saw on the dark web, Bradley said he knew it was wrong but he saw others on the dark web 'relishing in their activities like it was normal and should be accepted'.
He said: "The fantasy of acting on it in person would cross my mind, but no definitely to thinking about having a threesome or gangbang like I saw in other mainstream porn.
"There was never a temptation or urge to actively seek out a minor to abuse.
"In the moment that I was arrested, I was relieved. It's crazy to say, but for years I wanted to stop. I remember thinking as the handcuffs were going on, 'finally it's over'."
At the time he tried telling himself he wasn't the one filming the videos or participating, but he said in hindsight he was 'involved in the supply and demand of the child sexual abuse material industry'.
"In the moment of offending, I couldn't see how I was the abuser"
He's now raising awareness for groups like Lucy Faithfull Foundation and Sex Addicts Anonymous, saying the realisation of what he's done is motivating him to try and help prevent others from going down the same path he did.
"I don't believe there's anything I can say that would take back what I did," Bradley said as he explained he was 'happy' that his 'double life was destroyed'.
"I try daily to make sure the rest of my daily actions are around making amends to those I've harmed."
While he said that 'in the moment of offending, I couldn't see how I was the abuser', but his subsequent realisation has become his 'motivation to help prevent this in the future'.
It comes as the government is demanding big tech firms introduce safety measures onto children's phones, and if they don't then they will be legislated against.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced the plans in a speech at London Tech Week today (8 June), saying big tech companies must make it impossible for children to take, share or view naked pictures on their devices.
He said: "When it comes to the safety of our children, standing by is not an option. Nobody gets a free pass. That is why I’m making sure Britain is the first country in the world to make it impossible for children to take, share or view nude images.
"And I expect tech firms to make that happen. This is not an impossible challenge – these are some of the most innovative companies in the world. But if they choose not to, then we will act and change the law."
Adults would still be able to do these things through an age verification process.
Research found that 91 percent of online child sexual abuse reports recorded in 2024 contained self-generated content from children themselves, and by the age of 13 the average child has seen pornography.
The impact this may have on young lives is significant, as 39 percent of teenagers aged 13–17 have experienced emotional or physical abuse from a partner.
52 percent of all child sexual abuse and exploitation cases involve children aged 10–17 offending against other children.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said: "As a society, we have not kept pace with the changing threats that children face. Abuse online is far too common, and we will not tolerate it.
"Tech companies have a moral duty to act, by making it impossible for children to take, share or view nude images. If they don’t, we will legislate."
Topics: UK News, Crime, Technology
Joe Harker