After traveling to the Philippines and Nepal to sexually assault children, a notorious paedophile was sentenced to prison.
David Mould, 69, of Ivyhouse Lane in Hastings, East Sussex, taught others how to groom victims on the dark web.
He was a "influential user" of a global online community, according to the National Crime Agency (NCA).
Mould received a sentence at Lewes Crown Court that includes 21 years in prison and an additional seven years of probation.
Mould made friends with young boys while on the road, frequently giving them cash and presents so he could groom them and abuse them sexually later.
Mould advised pedophiles as a moderator of a dark web forum and enjoined other users to engage in similar crimes on a global scale.
He instructed users on exactly where to go, how to locate, approach, and groom boys, as well as what kinds of toys and sweets to bring.
Mould also had four "paedophile manuals," which contained comprehensive technical instructions on how to wipe and encrypt devices so as to avoid being discovered.
Among the 24 charges Mould admitted guilt on were having sex with kids as young as 13 and encouraging or inciting child exploitation.
Additionally, he was found guilty on four counts of having a paedophile manual, three counts of creating pornographic images of children, one count of disseminating one, and one count of having an extremely pornographic image.
In accordance with the terms of his five-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order, Mould has been prohibited from entering 22 countries, received a restraining order, and must sign the sex offenders register.
The Crown Prosecution Service's Jeanette Smith stated: "David Mould traveled to the Philippines and Nepal, where he preyed on helpless children, exploiting and manipulating them to commit sexual abuse.
He used the dark web to instruct and motivate other pedophiles on how to best commit equally heinous crimes, not content with just gratifying his own sexual desires. ".
Mould was labeled a "transnational child sex offender" by the NCA, which brought the case.
David Mould is a serial sexual offender who dedicated his time and resources to abusing children and motivating others to do the same, according to NCA spokesperson Hazel Stewart.
He clearly enjoyed the respect and admiration of other like-minded people online, where he gave offenders a secure space where their sexual proclivities could be acknowledged.
. "
