BARRY HEATH FROM HAVERHILL SENTENCED FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY OFFENSES IN ESSEX

In a case that has shocked the local community of Haverhill, Essex, Barry Heath, a 58-year-old man residing on Lundy Close, was sentenced to serve 18 months in prison after admitting to possessing and creating indecent images of children. The court heard that Heath had downloaded numerous disturbing images depicting children in pain, which led to his conviction on multiple charges.

During the hearing, prosecutor Robert Sadd revealed that Heath had pleaded guilty to 16 counts of making indecent photographs of children, along with one count of possessing such images. The charges were described as specimen charges, highlighting the severity of the case. The investigation uncovered a total of 7,670 images stored on Heath’s devices, with 2,716 classified at level four and 144 at level five, the most serious category indicating extreme abuse and suffering.

Mr. Sadd emphasized that Heath not only accessed these images but also took the step of saving them onto CD-ROMs, which demonstrated a significant effort to collect and retain such material. The images at level five depicted children who appeared to have endured pain, suggesting that their suffering was a direct result of the creation of these images.

The court was informed that Heath’s actions were brought to light when his wife discovered some of the images. This discovery led her to alert the police, which ultimately resulted in Heath’s arrest. The relationship between Heath and his wife, which had lasted for 18 years, was irreparably damaged by these offences.

During the proceedings, Heath’s defense lawyer, Andrew Thompson, explained that Heath had been entirely forthcoming about his actions. Heath reportedly told police, “I done it and I wish I hadn’t,” indicating remorse and acknowledgment of his wrongdoing. The judge also ordered Heath to be placed on the sex offenders’ register for a period of ten years and prohibited him from working with children, reflecting the serious nature of his crimes and the potential risk to the community.