AMOS THOMPSON FROM WEYMOUTH ESCAPES JAIL AFTER FILMING SCHOOLGIRL TOPLESS IN HER ROOM

In a case that has shocked the community of Weymouth, 70-year-old Amos Thompson, a known sex offender, narrowly avoided a prison sentence after being convicted of secretly filming a schoolgirl topless in her bedroom. The incident, which came to light during a court hearing in April 2001, revealed disturbing details about Thompson's actions and the legal consequences he faced.

Thompson was sentenced to three years of probation, a measure that includes mandatory attendance at an NSPCC sex offenders' course. Additionally, magistrates ordered him to reside in a bail hostel for a period of up to six months. As part of his sentence, he has also been placed on the sex offender register for five years, a move aimed at monitoring his activities and preventing further offenses.

The case against Thompson was built on prior guilty pleas to four charges related to the possession and creation of indecent photographs of a child. These charges were established during a previous hearing, setting the stage for the recent sentencing. The court heard that police had initially visited Thompson’s residence in January, not in connection with this case but for an unrelated matter. During that visit, officers seized various items they believed to be of a pornographic nature.

Among the seized items was a video that raised significant concern. The footage depicted a young girl undressing in her bedroom, which prompted further investigation. It was revealed that Thompson had used a camcorder to film the girl through her bedroom window. The resulting video showed her naked from the waist up, with parts of the footage freeze-framed and zoomed in to capture specific shots. Thompson claimed he believed the girl was approximately 14 years old, but it was confirmed that she was actually younger and completely unaware she was being filmed.

During the court proceedings, Thompson’s defense lawyer, David Campbell, acknowledged his client’s past use of pornography for recreational purposes. He emphasized that Thompson had not addressed the psychological issues stemming from this behavior and argued that imprisonment would not be an appropriate solution. Campbell expressed concern that a prison sentence would be particularly harsh given Thompson’s age and the potential treatment he might face inside. He also warned that Thompson could be vulnerable to vigilante attacks from members of the community upset by his actions.

Despite the serious nature of the charges, Thompson expressed remorse for his conduct and reportedly had many regrets, according to his legal representative. The investigation was led by Detective Sergeant Ross Brown of Weymouth CID, who commented on the case after sentencing. He stated, “The court has taken into account that children need to be protected from men like Amos Thompson. They have also recognised that he needs to be confronted with his offending behavior and its effects on other people.”

This case has once again highlighted the importance of safeguarding children and the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to address and prevent such disturbing offenses within the Weymouth community.