Man, 42, sent to prison for importing child sex dolls, making AI abuse videos

A Winnipeg man has been sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison after admitting to importing child sex dolls and using artificial intelligence to create child sex-abuse videos.

Jeffrey Sewell, 42, pleaded guilty to one count each of making and possessing child pornography.

Sewell was arrested in August 2024 after border agents intercepted a child sex doll mailed to his home.

Police seized several of Sewell’s electronic devices, which stored nearly 10,000 child sex-abuse images and videos, some of which Sewell created using artificial intelligence software and computer-generated imagery.

“Possession of child sexual abuse material is child sexual abuse. This is true whether it involves real or computer-generated images.”

“Possession of child sexual abuse material is child sexual abuse. This is true whether it involves real or computer-generated images,” said provincial court Judge Julie Frederickson.

“The production of such material is fuelled by demand, creating a relentless cycle of abuse, normalization and increased risk to children,” she said.

Police searched Sewell’s home and found a child sex doll on a bed; it was under the covers, dressed in a pair of pyjamas and holding a stuffed toy.

While manufacturing child-like sex dolls is typically not prohibited in countries such as China and Japan, possessing them is banned under Canadian law. A person can be criminally charged if the doll is used for sexual purposes.

Sewell was first exposed to child sex-abuse videos 10 years ago and felt “morally conflicted,” a pre-sentence report provided to court says.

“But rather than disavow such materials, he turned to creating child sexual abuse material, using CGI and AI,” Frederickson said.

Videos and images of real victims recovered from Sewell’s electronic devices, a sampling of which was reviewed by the judge, showed victims from toddlers to teenagers being violently sexually assaulted.

“Suffice it to say, what was shown was deeply disturbing and depraved,” Frederickson said.

Court heard Sewell has a “limited relationship history” and suffers from long-standing social anxiety. Family and friends described him as “kind and gentle.”

Sewell’s actions “demonstrate a very different person (who) over the course of many years engaged in repeated and escalating criminal behaviour,” Frederickson said.

“Although he is to be given credit for seeking counselling… he knew his behaviour wasn’t harmless.”

Sewell sought counselling following his arrest, but continues to show “limited” insight into his actions, Frederickson said, admitting in a pre-sentence report he had “entertained the idea of an emotional relationship with a teenager.”

“Although he is to be given credit for seeking counselling… he knew his behaviour wasn’t harmless,” the judge said.

Frederickson ordered that Sewell’s name be placed on the national sex-offender registry for 20 years and that he have no contact with children under 16 for 10 years and have limited access to the internet.

dean.pritchard@freepress.mb.ca