DOVER MAN ANDREW HAMMOND SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEX OFFENCES AND SKYPE THREATS IN DOVER

In August 2017, a disturbing case involving a resident of Dover, Andrew Hammond, came to light as he was sentenced to 16 months in prison for a series of heinous child sex offences. Hammond, who resides on Crabble Hill, was found guilty of multiple charges related to the possession, distribution, and creation of indecent images of children, as well as making obscene and threatening communications.

The charges against Hammond stemmed from an investigation that uncovered over 100 indecent images of minors, including one classified as Category A, the most severe category. The offences spanned from January 2012 to August 2016, during which Hammond engaged in activities that demonstrated a blatant disregard for the safety and dignity of children. His crimes included three counts of making indecent images, two counts of possessing such images, and three counts of distributing them. Additionally, he was charged with publishing an obscene article, which involved sending depraved messages via Skype describing the rape of babies and young children.

The case was brought to court after police officers from the Kent Police Paedophile Online Investigation Team executed a search warrant at Hammond’s residence on August 30, 2016. During the search, authorities seized his computer equipment and mobile phone, which contained images and videos linked to his offending. The evidence was damning and confirmed the severity of his actions.

Hammond appeared at Folkestone Magistrates’ Court on May 31, where he pleaded guilty to all charges. His admission was a clear acknowledgment of his involvement in these disturbing activities. The court was informed that Hammond had made over 100 indecent images, with 128 of them being created by him, and one of the images classified as Category A, indicating the most serious level of abuse.

Following his guilty plea, Hammond was remanded and later sentenced at Canterbury Crown Court on August 4. The judge described Hammond as a significant danger to the public, emphasizing the disturbing nature of his crimes and his apparent willingness to engage in activities that could cause severe harm to children. Hammond’s actions have raised serious concerns about his potential threat to the community, and the court’s decision reflects the gravity of his offences.

In addition to his prison sentence, Hammond has been placed on conditional bail with strict conditions. He is prohibited from having any unsupervised contact with children under the age of 16 and must not reside or sleep at any property where a child normally lives unless explicitly authorized by social services. Furthermore, he is barred from using any internet-enabled computer unless he is in a public library, aiming to prevent further access to harmful material. Hammond’s case remains a stark reminder of the ongoing efforts by law enforcement to combat online child exploitation and protect vulnerable minors from predatory individuals.