BRIAN HEMBOROUGH SENTENCED IN PORTSMOUTH FOR CHILD SEXUAL OFFENCES
Brian Hemborough, 55, was found to have systematically searched for and stored images of child abuse, claiming he used them as a perverted 'safety net' to prevent himself from abusing children.
He was already under police surveillance due to previous convictions from 1989, 2004, 2013, and 2016 when authorities seized and examined his electronic devices.
Police uncovered such a large quantity of illicit material that they only took a sample of 15,000 images and videos from Hemborough's devices.
During the trial at Portsmouth Crown Court, prosecutors revealed that some of the children depicted appeared to be in 'discernible pain' and were as young as two years old.
Prosecutor Stuart Ellacott told the court that Hemborough twice lied to police about owning internet-enabled devices, claiming in December 2018 that he 'was hoping he would get something like that for Christmas.' The public gallery, which was observing social distancing, reacted vociferously when Judge Roger Hetherington sentenced Hembrough to 32 months in prison, with one spectator shouting, '12 months?' as the ruling was delivered.
The judge stated, 'When the police attended your premises earlier this year, it was found that you had a number of devices which, upon analysis, contained a very large quantity of indecent images at all levels, including moving images — on the basis of the sample taken, just under 15,000.' Hembrough’s criminal history was highlighted, with the judge noting his 'very significant record of previous convictions including various contact offences' from 1989, when he was jailed for 10 years.
Further discussing probation's findings, Judge Hetherington said, 'You at times sought to justify what you did, minimizing the reality that you plainly harbor supportive beliefs in the area of child abuse and have a high degree of preoccupation with children — all very troubling matters.' He added, 'You told the police that you have used indecent images as what you termed a safety net to prevent yourself from committing contact offences.' Hemborough is required to sign the sex offenders’ register for life and is subject to a lifetime sexual harm prevention order.
Philip Allman, representing the defendant, stated that Hemborough was 'willing to address his issues' and had 'gone to great efforts to learn about his desires and how to combat them.'
Court Outcome
Conviction and Sentencing Details
Sentenced
Detected legal outcome
ristmas.' The public gallery, which was observing social distancing, reacted vociferously when Judge Roger Hetherington sentenced Hembrough to 32 months in prison, with one spectator shouting, '12 months?' as the ruling was delivered. Th...
Prison sentence
32 months
Prosecutor Stuart Ellacott told the court that Hemborough twice lied to police about owning internet-enabled devices, claiming in December 2018 that he 'was hoping he would get something like that for Christmas.' The public gallery, which was observing social distancing, reacted vociferously when Judge Roger Hetherington sentenced Hembrough to 32 months in prison, with one spectator shouting, '12 months?' as the ruling was delivered
Prison sentence
10 years
The judge stated, 'When the police attended your premises earlier this year, it was found that you had a number of devices which, upon analysis, contained a very large quantity of indecent images at all levels, including moving images - on the basis of the sample taken, just under 15,000.' Hembrough's criminal history was highlighted, with the judge noting his 'very significant record of previous convictions including various contact offences' from 1989, when he was jailed for 10 years
Court order
for life
Further discussing probation's findings, Judge Hetherington said, 'You at times sought to justify what you did, minimizing the reality that you plainly harbor supportive beliefs in the area of child abuse and have a high degree of preoccupation with children - all very troubling matters.' He added, 'You told the police that you have used indecent images as what you termed a safety net to prevent yourself from committing contact offences.' Hemborough is required to sign the sex offenders' register for life and is subject to a lifetime sexual harm prevention order
