Distributing video of people having sex with a goat and a dog.

William Cook, a father-of-one, was convicted of distributing a vile video depicting a 12-year-old girl being sexually assaulted by a five-year-old in an African village. He also pleaded guilty to possession of videos showing sexual acts involving animals.

Cook's crimes came to light when his WhatsApp messenger on his new phone retained records of videos sent from his old smartphone. The court heard that he had shared the video of child abuse with friends, adding a joking caption.

Cook's defense attorney, Graham King, claimed his client was unaware that his new phone re-downloaded the message and insisted that Cook had no sexual interest in children.

Judge Francis Sheridan, however, dismissed this argument, stating, "Here the case was utterly overwhelming. The defendant said in an interview he received this probably via Facebook and forwarded it to friends as a joke. It was child abuse of the worst sort and by having this for distribution it breathes life into the horrible industry of sex child abuse."

Beyond the child abuse charges, Cook was also convicted of a series of drug dealing offenses and money laundering. Police raids on his home yielded 8.59g of cocaine, cutting agents, weighing scales, and an extendable baton. He was also caught selling laughing gas at the Electric Daisy Carnival.

Judge Sheridan sentenced Cook to 87 months in prison for all of his crimes, stating, "It is very unusual to find someone who throws himself so wholeheartedly into a life of crime. The reality is that he was out for an easy life. The Electric Daisy Carnival is a haven for drug dealers as this court knows and I'm afraid the deterrent is to expect no mercy on this. He must expect a criminal lifestyle sentence. Drugs are the scourge of this country."

Cook was ultimately sentenced to seven years and three months in prison and placed on the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years.