Canadian 'swirl face' paedophile jailed in Thailand

0 Comments | AFP, August, 2008

BANGKOK (AFP) — A Canadian teacher arrested in Thailand after an unprecedented manhunt was sentenced to three years and three months in prison Friday for kidnapping and sexually abusing an underage boy.

Christopher Paul Neil, 33, was seized last October following a campaign by the international police agency Interpol, which had reconstructed a series of digitally "swirled" Internet images of a man abusing boys.

The court in Bangkok reduced his sentence from six years and six months, citing Neil's confession. He was also ordered to pay a 60,000 baht (1,800 dollar) fine.

Neil did not say anything as he left the courtroom in shackles and an orange prison uniform, but smiled at reporters.

He was convicted of molesting a 13-year-old boy. Neil still faces...