Blind paedophile collected child sex abuse images for over a decade

A paedophile claimed he couldn’t have been looking at indecent images of children because he’s blind.

Colin Boon, 61, put forward the explanation as his defence lawyers prepared his case for trial.

That defence fell away when the Westbury man pleaded guilty in February to a dozen counts of possession of indecent or prohibited images of children and extreme pornographic videos showing women having sex with animals.

Judge Peter Crabtree sentenced Boon to 18 months’ imprisonment suspended for two years, after hearing the sexagenarian was awaiting an operation to have a pacemaker fitted and it was unlikely he’d be able to complete the sex offenders’ rehabilitation programme if he was sent to custody immediately.

He said: “Anyone who downloads indecent images or children is fuelling an abhorrent industry, which involves the physical and psychological abuse of young children often with lifelong consequences. That is why this kind of offending is serious.”

Prosecutor Stephen Dent told Swindon Crown Court that members of paedophile hunter group Innocence Project North West live streamed a citizens’ arrest at Boon’s then home in Salisbury in 2018.

The group’s male founder, posing as an underage girl, had spent eight days exchanging messages with Boon online. The sexually explicit messages concerned the group, although Boon claimed he was aware the “girl” with whom he was speaking was in fact a decoy account.

The visit from the vigilante group brought the defendant to the attention of the police. Officers seized 26 digital devices from his flat on which were found illegal images and videos. They included laptops, mobile phones and SD storage cards.

In total, he was charged with possession of 125 images and films in category A, 81 in category B, 191 in category C, four prohibited images and 77 extreme pornographic images and videos showing women having sex with animals.

The vile collection featured children estimated to be as young as 12 months. Analysis by digital forensics experts suggested Boon had started saving the images in 2006, Mr Dent said.

Boon, of Bratton Road, Westbury, pleaded guilty in February to possession of indecent images of children, prohibited images and extreme pornography. He told the judge on the first day of trial he was entering the guilty pleas “on the advice of counsel”.

Judge Crabtree ordered Boon complete 40 rehabilitation activity requirement days as part of his 18 month suspended prison sentence, saying it was in the interest of the public, children and Boon himself for the defendant to be rehabilitated.

He must register as a sex offender and comply with a sexual harm prevention order for 10 years. Charges of attempted sexual communication with a child will lie on the file.

February 2021

Wiltshire man admits having child sex abuse images and extreme animal pornography

A partially blind man has pleaded guilty to possession of child rape images and images of humans having sexual intercourse with animals

Colin Boon had been due to stand trial this week on more than a dozen allegations he had the illicit images of children – including more than 120 in the most serious category showing the rape or torture of children

But after discussions between prosecutor Stephen Dent and the 61-year-old’s barrister Charley Pattison, the Wiltshire man was rearraigned at Swindon Crown Court yesterday. 

He pleaded not guilty to attempted sexual communication with an child named in court only as “Shannon”. 

He was read 13 other charges relating to the possession of indecent and prohibited images of children or illegal images of animals, answering “on the advice of counsel, guilty” to each charge. 

Appearing before Swindon Crown Court holding his white cane, Boon, of Bratton Road, Westbury, admitted possession of 125 indecent images in category A, the most serious category and which includes depiction of child rape, more than 80 images in category B, 190 in category C, 14 prohibited images of children and 77 extreme pornographic images depicting sex between people and animals.

Judge Peter Crabtree adjourned the case for the preparation of a pre-sentence report and medical evidence. He warned Boon’s lawyer that the starting point was a year’s imprisonment.

He will be sentenced on March 22.

The judge said his pleas would result in him being subject to sex offender notification requirements, meaning Boon must tell police of any changes to his address.