ANTHONY BERRA'S SHOCKING CHILD PORNOGRAPHY CASE IN EXMOUTH REVEALS LONG-TERM OFFENDING

In March 2007, a disturbing case emerged involving Anthony Berra, a man with deep ties to Exmouth, who was found guilty of possessing child abuse images stored secretly in a friend's loft. The case drew significant attention due to Berra's background as an academic and former teacher at Exmouth Community College, where he was responsible for marking children's exam papers.

Berra, aged 53 and residing on Bicton Street in Exmouth, kept two compact discs containing illicit material hidden away in the loft of a friend's house. His secret was uncovered when a loft insulation contractor discovered the discs during routine work and subsequently handed them over to the police. This discovery led to Berra's arrest and subsequent charges.

He pleaded guilty to 13 counts of possessing indecent images of children. Prosecutor Carla Grant revealed that the discs contained a total of 796 images, which Berra had obtained from an individual he met online, sharing similar fetishes. The court was informed that Berra had a prior conviction for possessing child pornography in 1991 and had received a caution for similar offenses in 1998. Additionally, police had previously responded to an incident in 2001 involving Berra and a 13-year-old boy in a pub toilet, but no formal action was taken at that time.

Berra's defense lawyer, Mary McCarthy, argued that most of the images fell into the two least serious categories and emphasized that there was no evidence suggesting he was distributing the material. She also noted that after his initial conviction, Berra had established himself as a painter and decorator, continuing to use his academic qualifications to mark examination papers. McCarthy stressed that Berra did not pose a significant threat to the public, although the court acknowledged the ongoing risk associated with his possession of child pornography.

Judge Graham Cottle delivered a stern sentence, condemning Berra for his prolonged concealment of the discs and his use of a friend's loft for his own sexual gratification. The judge highlighted that this was Berra's second conviction for similar offenses and expressed concern over an incident in 2001, which had been noted in the pre-sentence report and by a psychologist. Under the law, the judge stated that Berra was presumed to pose a significant risk of serious harm to the public.

He pointed out the escalation in the severity of Berra's offending and criticized his lack of plans to manage his behavior moving forward. The court found a high likelihood of continued possession of child pornography and a moderate risk of sexual assault on a child. As part of his sentence, Berra was sentenced to 12 months in prison, with an extended three-year license period that would be activated if he breached parole or committed another offense. He was also ordered to register as a sex offender for ten years and was permanently banned from working with children.

In a subsequent development in January 2025, Berra admitted to breaching the Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) first imposed in 2007. He pleaded guilty to publishing an obscene article in online chats and to two charges related to downloading four indecent images of children. When arrested, Berra inquired whether he could still go on holiday that week. Authorities found additional indecent images on two other devices, but due to the volume, no further charges were filed.

Berra's history of offending extended back to 1991, involving possession of indecent images while he was a teacher. His defense lawyer, Joss Ticehurst, explained that Berra struggles with paedophile urges and has been open about his issues. Ticehurst noted that Berra had previously funded his own therapy and that his offending was a significant lapse. He described Berra as remorseful and ashamed, emphasizing that the chat discussions about nappies had led him down other troubling paths.

The court was informed that Berra is subject to strict monitoring under the SHPO, which is in place for life. Ticehurst added that Berra uses social media platforms like WhatsApp, Teams, and Zoom for legitimate purposes, including accessing content from the Victoria and Albert Museum, and is compliant with the conditions imposed on him.

Ultimately, Berra was sentenced to a three-year community order, which includes 45 days of rehabilitation, a sex offender program, and 150 hours of unpaid work. The court's decision reflects ongoing concerns about his risk to the public and the need for continued supervision and intervention.