British grime star MistaKay, 25, is jailed for 15 years for sexually abusing a toddler


A grime artist whose music has featured on Coronation Street and Radio 1 has been jailed for 15 years after he admitted sexually abusing a toddler.

Rapper MistaKay, real name Kieran Cunliffe, 25, live-streamed the horrific abuse online in the US, a court heard.

Cunliffe, also known as Kieran McGowan, was today jailed and handed an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order by Sheffield Crown Court.

The court heard an undercover officer with Homeland Security came across a website and chat group in which a man sent videos of abuse.

There was also ‘concerning intelligence’ that suggested abuse was being live-streamed onto a chat room, police said.

Homeland Security alerted cops in the UK and the IP address was traced to a property in Doncaster, South Yorks., where Cunliffe was arrested later that day.

Rapper MistaKay, real name Kieran Cunliffe (pictured), 25, live-streamed the horrific abuse online in the US, a court heard

Rapper MistaKay, real name Kieran Cunliffe (pictured), 25, live-streamed the horrific abuse online in the US, a court heard

When he was interviewed he denied any involvement and answered no comment. He initially denied the charges but eventually changed his plea to guilty.

He admitted six counts of sexual assault of a child under 13, two counts of taking indecent images of a child and two counts of distributing indecent images of children.

The charges relate to one victim and were committed around October 6 in Doncaster.

Cunliffe also entered guilty pleas to offences in a separate case dating back to 2017.

He admitted two counts of making indecent images of a child and possession of indecent images during a hearing at Lewes Crown Court in December 2020.

Sheffield Crown Court heard Cunliffe was first arrested when he was living in Crawley, West Sussex, in November 2017.

Police executed a warrant and search his home and he was also arrested while at work. When his phone was seized indecent images were found.

Prosecutor Nicola Quinney moved onto the offences when he was living in Yorkshire, stating that an undercover officer with Homeland Security came across a website and chat group in which Cunliffe had sent videos of abuse.

The website used by Cunliffe stated that those browsing it all had the common belief ‘all humans are capable of sexual enjoyment regardless of age, sex or gender’.

He also messaged the group asking if anybody on the chat was into young children.

The Homeland Security officer then took steps to alert authorities in the UK and steps were taken to make sure he was arrested.

When he was interviewed he denied any involvement and answered no comment.

James Gould, defending, said Cunliffe has expressed ‘revulsion and disgust’ in himself and a real sense of remorse.

Mr Gould says the contents of pre-sentence reports and psychiatric reports add some context to the offending, pointing to his childhood and upbringing.

He added that Cunliffe is ‘receptive to help’ and, given his guilty pleas, has accepted responsibility.

Cunliffe (pictured) admitted six counts of sexual assault of a child under 13, two counts of taking indecent images of a child and two counts of distributing indecent images of children. The charges relate to one victim and were committed around October 6 in Doncaster

Cunliffe (pictured) admitted six counts of sexual assault of a child under 13, two counts of taking indecent images of a child and two counts of distributing indecent images of children. The charges relate to one victim and were committed around October 6 in Doncaster

Cunliffe, who cried multiple times through the hearing, had ‘boasted’ in the group chat about the abuse he subjected the youngster to.

One of the users on the app described the victim as ‘sexy’. Another user asked him to record the abuse and he replied that he would try.

Recorder Eckersley said Cunliffe’s crimes were ‘motivated by his perverted sexual interest in children’ and that he poses a risk to children.

He handed Cunliffe an extended sentence of 15 years. He will also be on the sex offenders’ register for life.

Cunliffe has more than 1,000 subscribers on YouTube and has released tracks with a number of artists.

His music has been played on BBC Radio One and 1Xtra and one of his songs was also played during an episode of Coronation Street.

One of his songs released in September, called ‘Where I Came From’, focused on the estate where he grew up in Doncaster.  

Cunliffe also claims to have had involvement in campaigns for Adidas, Oasis Drinks, Lipton Ice Tea, Red Bull and Derby County FC. 

Detective Constable Helen Cobley, of South Yorkshire Police, said: ‘Cunliffe’s abuse of a vulnerable child is absolutely appalling and it is only right that he receives a custodial sentence for his crimes.

‘We had to act fast upon receiving the information someone was possibly live-streaming horrific abuse, and we were able to secure a warrant for Cunliffe’s arrest and property searches quickly.

‘He is a dangerous individual who poses a significant risk to children and I hope the community are reassured by the swift action taken to apprehend Cunliffe and charge him with multiple child sexual offences.

‘While he did plead guilty to these horrific offences and accept responsibility for his crimes, this will do little to repair the harm and trauma caused to his victim.

‘The impact of sexual abuse on victims and their families can be devastating, and to commit such atrocious offences against a child is inexcusable.

‘We’re absolutely committed to bringing shameless offenders like Cunliffe to justice, his crimes have had a significant impact on his victim, and I truly hope that they are able to recover from this traumatic time in their life knowing that he is now behind bars.’ 

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