B.C. pedophile ‘Swirl Face’ gets 14 months in jail

A British Columbia man who infamously disguised his face in child pornography he made in Southeast Asia has been sentenced to 14 months in jail.

Christopher Neil pleaded guilty in December to five child-sex crimes that took place in Cambodia, Vancouver and Maple Ridge, B.C., spanning a 10-year period.

The Crown wanted a five-year prison sentence, but the judge handed Neil a 5.5 year sentence. However, due to time served, Neil will spend 14 months in jail.

Neil has also been handed a lifetime ban on being at playgrounds, schools and anywhere children are expected to be present. He will have access to the Internet when he is released, but he will only be able to use it to find work.

Neil has been held in custody since the RCMP Child Exploitation Unit arrested him two years ago following a sweeping investigation in B.C. and Cambodia.

At his April sentencing hearing, the 41-year-old who was dubbed “Swirl Face” by international media apologized to his victims and said he intends to change his behaviour.

Neil served nearly five years in a Thailand prison for the unrelated sexual abuse of two boys, but was released early and returned to Canada in the fall of 2012.