ANDREW LINTERN FROM KINGS LANGLEY SENTENCED FOR HORRIFIC CHILD ABUSE AT LONDON SOUTHWARK CROWN COURT

In a case that has shocked the community of Kings Langley and the wider London area, Andrew Lintern, a 55-year-old former scientist associated with Oxford University, has been handed an indefinite prison sentence following a series of heinous crimes involving child abuse and exploitation.

Lintern was found guilty of a staggering 31 offences, which included the sexual abuse of a 17-month-old baby, as well as the possession and distribution of an extensive collection of disturbing images depicting child abuse. The court heard that he had collected approximately 20,000 images, many of which were described by Judge Geoffrey Rivlin QC as being of the 'most disgusting, indeed horrific kind,' representing a truly appalling catalogue of offences against young children.

During the sentencing at London Southwark Crown Court, Judge Rivlin expressed his profound disgust at the scale and nature of Lintern’s crimes. He remarked that the number and severity of the offences made it difficult to fully comprehend the extent of the harm inflicted on the victims. The judge also highlighted the disturbing fact that Lintern had an obsession with the systematic sexual abuse of children, which he had acted upon repeatedly.

The court was told that Lintern had purchased nappies, which he admitted to wearing, further illustrating his disturbing fixation. Evidence revealed that he had stored nearly 20,000 images of children aged between five and ten in his home in Kings Langley. Among these images, three depicted Lintern himself abusing a toddler in 2002. The court also heard about the sexual assault on the 17-month-old baby, which Lintern confessed to police following his arrest. Judge Rivlin described this act as a gross breach of trust and emphasized the profound harm caused to the innocent victim.

In addition to the criminal acts, the court considered a probation report that assessed Lintern’s dangerousness. The report indicated that he was deeply entrenched in his offending behavior and posed a significant risk to children, a risk that was unlikely to diminish easily. The judge ordered that Lintern serve a minimum of three and a half years in prison before a parole review could be considered.

As part of his sentence, Lintern was ordered to enroll in a sex offender treatment program while incarcerated and to sign the sex offenders’ register indefinitely. His defense acknowledged the need for treatment, with Ravi Dogra, representing Lintern, stating that the man who once had a promising career at Oxford University had lost everything due to his compulsions.

Commenting on the case, Detective Sergeant Jason Tunn of the Metropolitan Paedophile Unit stated, “The court has recognised, along with the probation service and a defence psychologist, that Andrew Lintern continues to pose a serious and real risk to children. The sentence imposed reflects that he is a dangerous sexual predator.”