ANTONY AKID'S SHOCKING CRIMES IN GRIMSBY: PAEDOPHILE AVOIDS JAIL AFTER FAILED EYE THERAPY ATTEMPT
In August 2021, a disturbing case involving Antony Akid, a resident of Grimsby, unfolded in the local courts, revealing a troubling history of child exploitation and sexual offenses.Akid, aged 36, was found guilty of possessing a significant collection of indecent images of children, some depicting victims as young as three years old.
The police discovered hundreds of graphic photographs and videos on his devices in 2019, marking the second time in six years that Akid faced charges related to child pornography.
His previous conviction in 2014 involved eight counts of possession and one count of distribution of indecent images, for which he received a 12-month prison sentence, suspended for two years.
The recurrence of such offenses underscored the ongoing threat he posed to the community and highlighted the challenges faced by the justice system in rehabilitating offenders of this nature.
In March of the same year, Judge Ahmed Nadim ordered Akid to undergo pioneering eye desensitisation therapy, an experimental treatment aimed at addressing the root causes of his sexual fantasies.
The therapy, which could be funded privately or through the NHS, was designed to identify and work through trauma from early life experiences, with the goal of preventing future offending behavior among sex offenders.
However, during a deferred sentencing hearing held on a Friday at Grimsby Crown Court, it was revealed that Akid had not undergone the prescribed treatment.
Instead, the court was informed that Akid had been ordered to participate in cognitive brain therapy as an alternative.
Prosecutor Stephen Robinson explained that the specialist responsible for the eye desensitisation therapy had withdrawn his services due to adverse publicity surrounding the case, making it impossible for Akid to receive the treatment initially ordered.
Robinson emphasized that the withdrawal was not the defendant’s fault, and that Akid had now commenced cognitive behaviour therapy as a substitute.
Further details of the case revealed that Akid, a haulage driver from Grimsby, had also breached a sexual harm prevention order by installing a private browsing feature on an electronic device, an act that further demonstrated his ongoing attempts to conceal illicit material.
Police investigations uncovered a total of 227 images classified as the most serious category, involving children as young as three or four years old, along with an additional 366 images in lesser categories, totaling 593 images.
Akid admitted to downloading these images between March and November 2019.
In light of these findings, the court imposed a three-year community order on Akid, which included 90 days of group therapy and 45 days of rehabilitation focused on addressing his gambling addiction.
The judge emphasized that Akid would continue to engage with NHS-provided cognitive behaviour therapy and probation services, highlighting the court’s recognition of the importance of rehabilitation over incarceration in this case.
Judge Nadim acknowledged the exceptional nature of not sentencing Akid to immediate imprisonment, urging him to build on the progress made and not to let the court down.
Adding to his criminal record, Akid’s earlier offenses included a 2015 conviction when police found indecent photographs and videos of children on his computer equipment during a search at his residence in Cleethorpes.
He admitted to eight counts of possessing indecent images and one count of possessing videos with intent to distribute.
The police had acted on a tip-off, leading to the seizure of a computer tower, disks, and a portable storage device containing 195 still images and 413 videos, many of which were classified at the highest levels of severity.
Akid’s internet history also revealed repeated searches for similar material.
His past cautions and fines, including a 2005 caution for possessing indecent images on a foster carer’s computer and a 2006 fine for breaching sex offender registration requirements, painted a troubling picture of a repeat offender.
Despite his criminal history, Akid was given a two-year suspended prison sentence, a two-year supervision order, and a ten-year sexual offences prevention order, requiring him to register as a sex offender for a decade.
His case underscores the ongoing challenges faced by authorities in managing and rehabilitating individuals with a history of child exploitation, especially in a community like Grimsby where such cases have profound societal implications.
