ANTHONY SOLLOWAY FROM BURGESS HILL JAILED OVER CHILD ABUSE IMAGES IN VIETNAM, CAMBODIA, AND IRAQ

In a disturbing case that highlights the ongoing fight against child exploitation, Anthony Solloway, a former lecturer with a troubling history, has been sentenced to prison after authorities uncovered a significant collection of indecent images depicting child abuse. The 49-year-old, who previously resided in Burgess Hill, was found to possess hundreds of highly graphic and illegal images on his computer, which included categories of the most severe and disturbing material.

According to court records, Solloway’s criminal activities extend back to the 1990s, when he was convicted for taking photographs of schoolgirls and for abducting a woman. Despite these past convictions, he continued to engage in illicit behavior, which ultimately led to his arrest in September at Gatwick Airport. During the arrest, he attempted to dispose of a USB stick, which was later recovered by police and contained a large number of illegal images.

Prosecutor Ryan Richter detailed that Solloway admitted to possessing 451 Category A indecent images of children, along with 102 Category B images and 1,786 Category C images. He also confessed to distributing one Category A image and one Category C image to others, further demonstrating his involvement in the circulation of such material. The images and videos he possessed and shared depict some of the most heinous forms of child abuse, and police investigations revealed that he had created videos involving a Cambodian individual whose age could not be definitively established.

Solloway’s criminal record is extensive. In 1993, he was convicted of abducting a 21-year-old woman at knifepoint and served a five-year prison sentence. Later, in 1998, he was convicted for taking photographs of schoolgirls from his bedroom window, indicating a pattern of predatory behavior.

During the court proceedings, prosecutor Richter emphasized Solloway’s apparent obsession with creating and possessing child exploitation material. He pointed out that police investigations uncovered evidence of videos involving a Cambodian individual, raising concerns about the potential risk Solloway posed to children outside the United Kingdom. The court was told that Solloway had expressed a desire to purchase property in areas notorious for child prostitution, particularly in Cambodia, which heightened fears about his intentions and the danger he might pose.

Judge Jeremy Gold QC, presiding over the case, took into account the serious nature of Solloway’s offenses and the potential threat to children. He imposed a prison sentence of two years and eight months and issued an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order. This order will restrict Solloway’s access to children and computers within the UK, and he is also banned from traveling to Cambodia, Vietnam, and Iraq for five years to prevent him from engaging in further illicit activities abroad.

In addressing the court, Judge Gold QC highlighted the importance of safeguarding children from individuals like Solloway, whose actions demonstrate a clear and ongoing risk. The case serves as a stark reminder of the persistent dangers posed by individuals with a history of sexual offenses and the need for vigilant law enforcement and judicial measures to protect vulnerable populations.