August 2001

Internet child porn user shopped by colleague

An administration worker at Kings College has escaped a prison sentence after downloading pornographic images of children from the internet.

Terry Fleming was sentenced to a two year rehabilitation order after a colleague discovered the images on Flemings computer during a lunch break. The colleague was horrified to discover numerous sexual images of children had been saved onto the hard drive and informed a supervisor who contacted police.

Police obtained a warrant to search Flemings house in Rotherhithe where further indecent pictures were found. He was charged at Brixton police station on April 30.

Detective Constable Ed Allen from Streatham CID who worked on the investigation said: People must not think because they are operating from behind a computer screen they are safe from the police or that this is in some way a victimless crime.

Each picture represents the suffering or exploitation of an abused child and it is important we send out a clear message to those who encourage these crimes by collecting these pictures. People who abuse the internet for this purpose commit an offence, they can be traced by the police and will be put before the court.

Fleming, who has since been sacked from his job as an administrative support worker, spent three months in prison on remand. He was sentenced at Inner London Crown Court after pleading guilty at Camberwell Magistrates Court, and will now be registered with police as a sex offender.

A spokesman for Kings College said: Terence Fleming is no longer employed by the college.