April 2021

Downham man, 80, admits making and possessing indecent images

An 80-year-old Downham man has today admitted to making indecent images of the most serious nature.

Derek Latchford appeared before magistrates in King’s Lynn to plead guilty to making 18 category A stills and 2 category A videos.

He also admitted making 32 category B stills and 87 category C stills.

The offences occurred between March 11, 2011 and February 8, 2019.

Latchford, of Tinkers Way, also pleaded guilty to possession of a prohibited image of a child between the same dates.

And the defendant admitted to a third charge of acting together with another man in possessing 65 extreme pornographic images, namely a person performing an act of intercourse with a live or dead unknown animal. This offence took place between January 1 and February 28, 2019.

Prosecutor Michael Devaney told the court that police also found evidence of software for deleting and erasing data.

The bench said it had insufficient powers to sentence Latchford and the case will next be heard at Norwich Crown Court on a date to be fixed.

April 2021

Computer engineer discovered man’s haul of indecent images

A West Norfolk man used a work laptop to access indecent images of children.

Phillip Brown, 43, appeared before magistrates in Lynn on Thursday to admit making 122 images of category A – the most serious nature – on or before October 2, 2019.

He also pleaded guilty to making 115 category B images and 174 category C images.

And he accepted having possession of 21 extreme pornographic images involving an animal.

Prosecutor Michael Devaney told the court that offences had been picked up by a software engineer assessing Brown’s work laptop.

Police conducted a search of the defendant’s home in School Road, East Rudham, and the totality of images was discovered.

Mr Devaney said the high volume of category A images, deliberate searching, and the period of time the images had been held for were all aggravating features of the case.

The bench said it had insufficient sentencing powers to deal with Brown and committed the case to Norwich Crown Court on a date to be fixed.

Brown, who had no previous convictions, was granted unconditional bail and told to sign on the Sex Offenders’ Register within three days.

March 2021

Man found with 8,000 indecent child images feared catching Covid in prison

A man who feared catching Covid in prison after a police raid found 8,000 indecent images of children on his computer has escaped a jail sentence.

Andrew Blundell, 62, was found to have downloaded the images over a three-year period, including 958 images in the most serious category, Norwich Crown Court heard.

Blundell, of Church Street, Wymondham, admitted downloading indecent images of children and possession of 49 prohibited images and three extreme porn images between July 2016 and August 29, 2019.

The court heard that Blundell had a previous conviction for possessing indecent images of children back in 2003, and had been jailed for six months.

Lynne Shirley, prosecuting, said there were in total more than 8,000 images although there was no suggestion that Blundell had distributed any of the hundreds of  images he had downloaded.

Recorder Guy Ayers imposed a 16-month jail sentence, suspended for 21 months, and placed him on the sex offenders’ register for 10 years.

He will also attend a sex offenders’ treatment programme and do 80 hours unpaid work.

February 2021

Man admitted underage sex

A 21-year-old man was placed on the sex offenders’ register for five years and given a three-year supervision order yesterday after admitting sexual activity with a child under the age of 16.

Michael Bozward , of Regent Road, Yarmouth, was cleared of raping the girl following a trial last month.

He had previously admitted the lesser charge, claiming the act was consensual and had been preceded by a game of hide and seek in a cemetery with a group of youths on May 7 .

Sentencing him yesterday, Judge Daniel Worsley said the experience must have been “devastating” for the victim.

Bozward must also complete a 200-hour Thames Valley programme for sexual offenders.