WIMBLEDON TRAIN DRIVER BRIAN CATER SENTENCED FOR CHILD PORN AND LOADED GUN

In a disturbing case that has shocked the Wimbledon community, 54-year-old train driver Brian Cater was sentenced to two years in prison after being found guilty of possessing a vast collection of indecent images of children, along with a loaded semi-automatic handgun. The conviction was handed down at Kingston Crown Court last month, revealing the extent of Cater's alleged criminal activities.

According to court records, Cater, who resides on Brooklands Avenue in Wimbledon, faced multiple charges including eight counts of creating indecent images of children, one count of possessing approximately 15,000 such images, and an additional charge related to the possession of a prohibited firearm. The investigation into Cater's activities was initiated after his details were provided to British authorities by US Customs officials as part of the international operation known as Operation Ore.

The police executed a search warrant at Cater’s Wimbledon residence early in the morning on December 17, 2002, at 6:50 am. The warrant was issued under the Protection of Children Act, reflecting the serious nature of the allegations. During the raid, officers seized two computers and twenty Zip discs, which were later subjected to detailed forensic analysis. The investigation uncovered a disturbing collection of images, revealing Cater’s involvement in highly depraved material.

Detective Inspector Brian Ward of Wimbledon police described the findings: “The computer and Zip discs were password-protected and encrypted, which initially hampered our investigation as Cater refused to cooperate. However, we eventually uncovered approximately 2,000 images of children on his computer and an additional 13,000 images stored on the discs. These images ranged across all levels of severity, including the most extreme, level five, which features images of bestiality and torture.”

In addition to the digital evidence, the search uncovered a loaded Argentinian DGFM .45-calibre semi-automatic handgun, along with a significant quantity of ammunition. It is believed that the firearm was brought back from the Falklands War by someone involved in the conflict, raising concerns about the weapon’s potential use.

Brian Cater, who has a disabled wife and two adult children, had no previous criminal record prior to this case. Despite his lack of prior convictions, the court sentenced him to two years’ imprisonment. Furthermore, Cater was subjected to a three-year sex offender supervision order, will spend ten years on the sex offenders register, and was permanently banned from working with children. The case has left many in Wimbledon and beyond questioning the safety and oversight of individuals in positions of trust.