House of Lords researcher kept over 1,000 indecent images and films of children on his work laptop
Parliamentary authorities uncovered Guleid Abdulkarim's stash while performing a routine review of computer systems
A HOUSE of Lords researcher who downloaded more than 1,000 images and films of children has been jailed for two years and eight months.
Guleid Abdulkarim, 30, kept more than 500 of the most serious category featuring toddlers on his work laptop.
Parliamentary authorities reviewing computer systems found indecent images accessed through its server.
Ethiopian-born Abdulkarim worked for Tory peer Baroness Nicholson of Winterbourne, who sacked him.
His laptop was found in his locker at a gay sauna, Southwark crown court heard.
It had footage of him committing a sex act on himself while discussing child abuse with paedophiles in a chatroom.
Prosecutor John Evison said: "This all came to light because Parliament carried out a review.
"The defendant was employed by a member of the House of Lords - he was employed as a researcher/assistant.
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“Parliament itself carried out a review and found some evidence of indecent images on a Parliamentary server and they passed the information to the paedophile unit.”
Abdulkarim, of no fixed address, admitted making indecent images of children and distributing indecent images of children.
Jailing him, Judge Joanna Korner QC, said: "You have pleaded guilty today to five counts of possession or distribution of indecent images involving extremely young children.
“If it was not for people like you and the others who indulge in this there would be no market for these type of films and images and children would thereby be protected.
“These are exceedingly serious offences and therefore there is no alternative but custody.”