BRIAN HEMBOROUGH'S HORRIFIC CHILD ABUSE IMAGE SCANDAL IN SOUTHSEA AND WINCHESTER
| Red Rose Database
Southsea Child Sexual Abuser
In a series of disturbing incidents spanning several years, Brian Hemborough, a resident of Southsea, has been repeatedly linked to the possession and creation of a vast collection of child abuse images, with the most recent revelations surfacing in 2020. His criminal activities have shocked the local community and prompted severe legal actions.
Back in June 2020, Hemborough, aged 55 at the time, was found to be in possession of more than 15,000 indecent images of children. These images, which included videos and photographs depicting children as young as two in discernible pain, were discovered during a police raid on his property. The authorities had already been monitoring Hemborough due to prior convictions dating back to 1989, 2004, 2013, and 2016. When his devices were seized and examined, investigators uncovered an overwhelming quantity of illicit material. Due to the volume, only a sample of 15,000 images was taken from his devices, which were found to contain a mixture of categories, including the most severe, Category A images.
During the court proceedings at Portsmouth Crown Court, prosecutor Stuart Ellacott detailed the disturbing nature of the images, emphasizing the pain inflicted upon the children depicted. The court also heard that Hemborough had lied twice to police, denying possession of internet-enabled devices and claiming in December 2018 that he was hoping to receive such devices as Christmas presents. His deception was uncovered during the investigation.
The courtroom was filled with emotional reactions from the public gallery, which was socially distanced due to health protocols. Two individuals present expressed outrage as Judge Roger Hetherington sentenced Hemborough to 32 months in prison. One person shouted, “12 months?” in disbelief, as the judge delivered the sentence. Hemborough pleaded guilty to eight charges of making indecent images, two breaches of a sexual offences prevention order, and three counts of possessing indecent images. His secret viewing of these images spanned from December 2015 to January of this year.
Judge Hetherington highlighted Hemborough’s extensive criminal history, including a 10-year jail sentence in 1989 for contact offences. The court also considered probation reports, which revealed that Hemborough had attempted to justify his actions and minimize the severity of his beliefs supporting child abuse. The judge noted that Hemborough had admitted to using the images as a “safety net” to prevent himself from committing contact offences, a troubling insight into his mindset.
As part of his sentence, Hemborough is required to register as a sex offender for life and is subject to a lifetime sexual harm prevention order. These measures aim to monitor and restrict his future activities to protect potential victims.
Earlier in May 2020, Hemborough had already admitted to possessing over 11,000 child abuse images, including categories A, B, and C, with a total of 9,959 images at that time. He was remanded into custody following a court hearing at Portsmouth Crown Court, where he also admitted breaching a sexual harm prevention order by using unapproved devices. The court ordered a pre-sentence report to assess whether Hemborough should be classified as a dangerous offender, which could lead to an extended prison sentence.
In April 2020, Hemborough pleaded guilty to possessing more than 1,000 indecent images of children, including 232 Category A images, which are the most severe. He was remanded in custody at Portsmouth Magistrates’ Court pending sentencing.
Hemborough’s criminal record also includes a 2013 case in Winchester, where he was convicted of possessing 4,999 indecent images of children. Despite the severity of his offences, he was spared immediate imprisonment and instead received a three-year community rehabilitation order, with conditions including supervision and participation in a sexual offenders’ programme. The court also imposed a lifelong ban on unsupervised contact with children under 16 and mandated registration on the sex offenders’ register.
The Winchester case involved a breach of an interim sexual offences prevention order when Hemborough was caught fishing with an 11-year-old boy, which was considered a less serious breach but still indicative of ongoing risk. His previous convictions include a 1984 ten-year sentence for buggery and indecent assault, a 1994 conviction for indecency with a child, and a 2004 conviction for possessing indecent photographs of children. These convictions underscore a long history of offending against minors.
Throughout these proceedings, Hemborough’s actions have been met with widespread condemnation, and his case continues to serve as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by individuals with a history of child abuse and possession of illicit images. Authorities remain vigilant in monitoring his activities, and the legal system has imposed strict measures to prevent further harm.
Back in June 2020, Hemborough, aged 55 at the time, was found to be in possession of more than 15,000 indecent images of children. These images, which included videos and photographs depicting children as young as two in discernible pain, were discovered during a police raid on his property. The authorities had already been monitoring Hemborough due to prior convictions dating back to 1989, 2004, 2013, and 2016. When his devices were seized and examined, investigators uncovered an overwhelming quantity of illicit material. Due to the volume, only a sample of 15,000 images was taken from his devices, which were found to contain a mixture of categories, including the most severe, Category A images.
During the court proceedings at Portsmouth Crown Court, prosecutor Stuart Ellacott detailed the disturbing nature of the images, emphasizing the pain inflicted upon the children depicted. The court also heard that Hemborough had lied twice to police, denying possession of internet-enabled devices and claiming in December 2018 that he was hoping to receive such devices as Christmas presents. His deception was uncovered during the investigation.
The courtroom was filled with emotional reactions from the public gallery, which was socially distanced due to health protocols. Two individuals present expressed outrage as Judge Roger Hetherington sentenced Hemborough to 32 months in prison. One person shouted, “12 months?” in disbelief, as the judge delivered the sentence. Hemborough pleaded guilty to eight charges of making indecent images, two breaches of a sexual offences prevention order, and three counts of possessing indecent images. His secret viewing of these images spanned from December 2015 to January of this year.
Judge Hetherington highlighted Hemborough’s extensive criminal history, including a 10-year jail sentence in 1989 for contact offences. The court also considered probation reports, which revealed that Hemborough had attempted to justify his actions and minimize the severity of his beliefs supporting child abuse. The judge noted that Hemborough had admitted to using the images as a “safety net” to prevent himself from committing contact offences, a troubling insight into his mindset.
As part of his sentence, Hemborough is required to register as a sex offender for life and is subject to a lifetime sexual harm prevention order. These measures aim to monitor and restrict his future activities to protect potential victims.
Earlier in May 2020, Hemborough had already admitted to possessing over 11,000 child abuse images, including categories A, B, and C, with a total of 9,959 images at that time. He was remanded into custody following a court hearing at Portsmouth Crown Court, where he also admitted breaching a sexual harm prevention order by using unapproved devices. The court ordered a pre-sentence report to assess whether Hemborough should be classified as a dangerous offender, which could lead to an extended prison sentence.
In April 2020, Hemborough pleaded guilty to possessing more than 1,000 indecent images of children, including 232 Category A images, which are the most severe. He was remanded in custody at Portsmouth Magistrates’ Court pending sentencing.
Hemborough’s criminal record also includes a 2013 case in Winchester, where he was convicted of possessing 4,999 indecent images of children. Despite the severity of his offences, he was spared immediate imprisonment and instead received a three-year community rehabilitation order, with conditions including supervision and participation in a sexual offenders’ programme. The court also imposed a lifelong ban on unsupervised contact with children under 16 and mandated registration on the sex offenders’ register.
The Winchester case involved a breach of an interim sexual offences prevention order when Hemborough was caught fishing with an 11-year-old boy, which was considered a less serious breach but still indicative of ongoing risk. His previous convictions include a 1984 ten-year sentence for buggery and indecent assault, a 1994 conviction for indecency with a child, and a 2004 conviction for possessing indecent photographs of children. These convictions underscore a long history of offending against minors.
Throughout these proceedings, Hemborough’s actions have been met with widespread condemnation, and his case continues to serve as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by individuals with a history of child abuse and possession of illicit images. Authorities remain vigilant in monitoring his activities, and the legal system has imposed strict measures to prevent further harm.