Former gymnastics coach from Huntingdon jailed after admitting creating indecent images of children
A former gymnastics coach has been jailed after admitting creating indecent images of children.
A police spokesman said: “Thomas Verdicchio (24) of Seathwaite, Huntingdon, was arrested in October 2024 following a re ferral from British Gymnastics.
"Officers seized his mobile phone, iPad, and laptop, which contained two category B videos and 15 category C photographs – category A is the most severe.
“Some of the images were digitally manipulated using “deep fake” technology to superimpose a child’s head onto a nude body.”
Verdicchio pleaded guilty to four counts of making an indecent photograph/pseudo-photograph of a child at a hearing in October.
He was sentenced to one year and 10 months in prison at a hearing at Cambridge Crown Court on November 20.
He was also issued with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) for 10 years and must register with the police throughout that period.
Detective Constable Daniel Knight, who led the investigation, said: “Verdicchio was fully aware his actions were wrong, and he betrayed the trust placed in him by the community. He poses a serious threat to children, and had he not been caught, his crimes could have escalated into contact offences.”
Cambridgeshire Constabulary urges anyone with concerns about child safeguarding to report them immediately via www.cambs.police.uk/report or call 101.