He was given a suspended sentence at the Isle of Wight Crown Court today (Thursday).

He had pleaded guilty to seven counts — three of possessing indecent images of children, three of distributing indecent images and one of encouraging or assisting in an offence — at an earlier hearing, held at the Isle of Wight Magistrates’ Court on November 15.

Prosecutor Tim Compton said Ghent was caught after Metropolitan Police officers searched the computer of another offender and discovered Skype messages, sharing indecent images, from an account belonging to him.

Mr Compton said: “Hampshire Police were informed of the Skype account NewRanger1970, which had an email address attached to it. Police were able to trace that email to an IP address in Ventnor.

“Police arrested Mr Ghent at his place of work and a search of his email account showed he had sent moving images and stills to others.

“On his laptop, there was a folder titled ‘pics’ that was used to save the images.

“There was an ongoing conversation with an account named DesertDaren asking Mr Ghent such things as: “How young do you want to see?”

“An examination of Mr Ghent’s laptop found almost 3,000 explicit images and videos of children aged between six and 14.

“A check of his search history showed he had used Google to look for things such as ‘pre teens,’ ‘Lolita angels’ and ‘twinks.’

“It is clear what was going on. In interview, he said he had done wrong and was sorry.

“He told police he just wanted to feel loved.” The court heard Ghent had lost his job following his appearance at the magistrates’ court and had no previous history of offending.

The head chef admitted seven counts of intentional sexual touching of a child, two of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and one of taking indecent photographs of a child, all against a girl aged under 16, between August 12 and December 23 last year.

An application to have Holness’s sentenced reduced for pleading guilty at a later hearing, was rejected by the judge on the grounds he “knew full well what he had done” when he appeared before Island magistrates.

During his depraved acts against the young teen, Holness, 36, warned her to be quiet, and groomed her by rewarding her with cash, said John Farmer, prosecuting, at the Isle of Wight Crown Court on Tuesday.

Holness also made her undress so he could take photographs of her naked, the judge was told.

When arrested, police discovered the photographs on his mobile phone.

On top of his jail term, Holness was placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for life and made subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

He admitted failing to comply with the notification requirement of his Sexual Harm Prevention Order, and being in breach of a suspended sentence.

Prosecutor, Philip Allman, told the court Bradshaw had been five days late in registering at the police station — something he is required to do annually.

He had been placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for ten years following a Crown Court appearance on March 6, 2020, for three counts of making indecent images of children after he was found in possession of almost 35,000 pictures.

Bradshaw had been caught after taking his laptop to a computer shop to be repaired, and staff discovered a hidden folder on his hard drive.

Sentence update

Judge Roger Hetherington gave Bradshaw a 12 month custodial sentence, suspended for 24 months.

He was also placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for ten years, placed under a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for ten years.

He must undertake 25 rehabilitation days.

He was also ordered to pay court costs of £425 and a victim surcharge of £90.

February 2020

Almost 35,000 child abuse images found on Isle of Wight man’s laptop — when he took it to computer repair shop

Almost 35,000 child abuse images were found on a man’s laptop — when he took it to a computer repair shop.

David Bradshaw, 63, of Dolcroft Road, Rookley, appeared at the Isle of Wight Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, where he admitted three counts of making indecent images of children.

He appeared at the Isle of Wight Crown Court on Friday for sentencing, where he was given a suspended jail term.

Recorder Richard Shepherd said the prosecution had put the case that it was deliberate downloading of 3,000-odd Category A images showing indecent images of children, just under 5,000 at Category B and just under 20,000 Category C.

Berryman had denied the offences

Family members, including his wife and daughter, plus his employer, gave statements about his good character, but Recorder Shepherd told Berryman “the letters are very powerful but written on the basis they have believed lies you have told them.”

He added: “You now believe your own lies.”

Recorder Shepherd said he would take into account positive steps taken to avoid the internet, Berryman’s fragile mental health, and that the proceedings had been delayed three years.

He sentenced him to two years in custody, suspended for two years.

He must pay £500 costs, undertake 30 rehabilitation days and be subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for ten years.

He is also placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register.