Croydon Man Keith Edun Encouraged Rape of Baby & Shared Indecent Images

A Croydon man has been convicted of encouraging the rape of a baby and possessing indecent images of children.

Keith Edun, of Strathmore Road, Croydon, pleaded guilty at Croydon Crown Court on Monday (December 2) to numerous offenses involving the sexual exploitation of children. In July 2021, police received information about a user sharing indecent images of young people on the social media app Kik. Investigations linked the account to Edun's address, leading to a search warrant in September 2021.

During the search, officers discovered Edun had posed as a female named Sally on various social media platforms for years. A separate investigation led to the conviction of a male for the rape of a baby in March 2020. Police found that Edun used his Kik account to encourage this act.

Data revealed Edun's attempts to conceal his online activity by regularly installing and uninstalling the app. He even deleted the app moments before officers entered his home, attempting to pervert the course of justice. When questioned, Edun denied knowledge of the images, claiming he had been hacked and blaming an error with his internet service provider's router.

Edun was charged in October 2023 and remanded into custody. At Croydon Crown Court, he pleaded guilty to inciting the rape of a baby, distribution of indecent images of children, two counts of making indecent images of children, and perverting the course of justice.

He will be sentenced at the same court on February 14, 2025. Detective Constable Phill Govett, the investigating officer, stated: "This was an extremely complex investigation involving the digital forensic examination of multiple devices and cross-referencing his online activity with real-world actions." He commended Edun's meticulous efforts to conceal his crimes but expressed satisfaction that he would face consequences for his actions.

The baby involved in the case has been identified and safeguarded thanks to the collaborative work of law enforcement agencies.