ANDREW PICKETT FROM STEVENAGE FACES JUDGMENT OVER CHILD INDECENT IMAGES AND BESTIALITY MATERIAL

In a case that has shocked the local community of Stevenage, Andrew Pickett, a 33-year-old resident of St Davids Close, has admitted to possessing a vast collection of illegal images and material involving children and animals. The proceedings took place at Stevenage magistrates' court, where Pickett pleaded guilty to multiple charges related to the possession of indecent images of minors and extreme pornography.

On Wednesday, the court heard that the authorities discovered the illicit content on July 17 of the previous year. Among the images found was a prohibited picture of a child, which is classified as the most serious category of illegal material. In addition to this, investigators identified a total of 2,091 indecent images of children, categorized into different levels of severity: 256 images in Category A, 385 in Category B, and 1,450 in Category C. These categories reflect the increasing levels of harm and explicitness, with Category A being the most severe.

Furthermore, Pickett admitted to possessing extreme pornography involving animals, specifically dogs and horses, which is also considered a serious offence under the law. The court was informed that these offences are linked to four separate charges, all of which Pickett has acknowledged.

As part of the legal process, Pickett is required to register as a sex offender and will be sentenced at Cambridge Crown Court on May 24. Until then, he has been granted bail under strict conditions. These conditions include a ban on using any software that could facilitate file sharing, manipulation, or deletion of internet history. He is also prohibited from viewing any online pornography and must allow police access to his devices at any time for inspection.

Additional restrictions imposed on Pickett include a prohibition on any unsupervised contact with children under the age of 16. He is also barred from engaging in any employment or activities that would bring him into contact with individuals under 18. These measures aim to prevent any potential risk to minors while the legal process continues. The case highlights ongoing concerns about online safety and the importance of vigilance in protecting vulnerable populations from exploitation and abuse.