ANDREW WOOD MAIDSTONE PERVERT SENTENCED FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY AND BESTIALITY CASE

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Maidstone, Andrew Wood, aged 59, was sentenced to 10 months in prison after being found guilty of possessing and creating indecent images of children, as well as material involving bestiality. The court proceedings revealed the extent of his disturbing collection, which included over 60 hours of graphic video clips depicting children as young as five years old, alongside scenes of animals engaged in sexual acts.

Andrew Wood appeared in Maidstone Crown Court, where he slumped in the dock as the judge delivered the verdict. The judge, Charles Macdonald QC, expressed disappointment that Wood had not fully accepted responsibility for his actions. During the hearing, it was disclosed that Wood had initially claimed to police that he had 'accidentally' come across the illicit images while intoxicated and browsing adult pornography. He insisted that the images mostly involved girls aged 13 and 14. However, evidence presented in court contradicted his account, revealing that the children depicted in the most serious images ranged in age from five to twelve years old. These images also included scenes where children were tied up, and some involved acts of bestiality.

The court was informed that Wood’s offenses spanned over a four-year period, highlighting a prolonged period of criminal activity. At the time of his arrest in October of the previous year, police raided his residence on Bell Road, Maidstone. They discovered a vast collection of illicit material stored on two laptops, which included both still images and video clips. Prosecutor Martin Yale detailed that the material was graded at various levels of severity, with 76 movies classified at level four and ten at level five, indicating the most serious content. In total, the police found 31 still images and 125 movies, amounting to over 62 hours of footage.

Wood admitted to viewing the images out of curiosity but acknowledged that he found them sexually gratifying. His defense lawyer, Mary Jacobson, requested that the court consider a suspended sentence, emphasizing that Wood, who had no prior convictions, could benefit from treatment rather than immediate imprisonment. She argued that such an approach would be more effective in preventing future offenses than incarceration among more hardened offenders.

The court also heard that Wood’s criminal behavior had led to significant personal upheaval. He had been forced to move home three times due to retribution from others, and at present, he was residing in a bed and breakfast. His property had been vandalized, with windows smashed and his car set on fire, illustrating the extent of community outrage.

As part of his sentence, Wood was subjected to a sexual offences prevention order, which restricts his access to the internet and contact with children. Additionally, he was ordered to sign the sex offenders’ register for a period of ten years, ensuring ongoing monitoring of his activities to protect the community from potential harm.