CHRISTIAN SANDERS FROM BRADNINCH AND STAINES SENTENCED FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY AND VOYEURISM CRIMES

In a disturbing case that has shocked the communities of Bradninch, Staines, and surrounding areas, Christian Sanders has been sentenced to nearly five years in prison after being found guilty of a series of heinous crimes involving the exploitation and voyeurism of young girls. The case came to light after Sanders, 36, was caught in a criminal act that involved secretly filming minors using a hidden camera pen, a device he employed to satisfy his disturbing sexual fantasies.

Sanders’ criminal activities were uncovered when he sent indecent images of children to a friend, who then reported the matter to the police. This led to a thorough investigation, during which authorities discovered that most of the illicit images stored on Sanders’ computer hard drive were produced in Ottershaw between 2005 and 2011. The investigation revealed a pattern of abuse spanning several years, with the images and videos depicting young girls in compromising and vulnerable situations.

At Guildford Crown Court on September 30, the prosecution outlined the gravity of Sanders’ offenses. He faced a total of 20 charges, including 10 counts of producing indecent images of children, three counts of distributing such images, four counts of voyeurism, and two counts of possession of a prohibited weapon. Prosecutor James Fletcher detailed that the images ranged from at least 1,366 at the lowest severity level to nine images classified as the most serious, category five. Some images had been downloaded from the internet, but a significant number were filmed by Sanders himself using a covert pen-style camera, capturing young girls without their knowledge or consent.

Further evidence revealed that six images were shared via Sanders’ phone to another individual, who then contacted the police. This act of distribution prompted a search of Sanders’ residence, where authorities seized his computer and uncovered a disturbing collection of illicit images. The voyeurism charges stemmed from incidents in Staines, where Sanders used the hidden camera to record young girls, further illustrating his predatory behavior. Additionally, the investigation uncovered two CS gas canisters at Sanders’ home, which constituted the prohibited weapons charges. A separate charge involving a cattle prod stun gun was dismissed, as the item was not classified as a prohibited weapon.

Sanders had previously admitted to some of the lesser charges during a plea and case management hearing in 2013. By the time of his trial scheduled for September 1, 2014, he had entered guilty pleas to the remaining charges. During sentencing, Judge Noel Lucas QC read victim impact statements from two young girls who had been filmed while under the age of 16. One victim described feeling humiliated, shocked, and devastated, expressing that the experience had shattered her trust in others. The second victim described Sanders’ actions as driven by “disgusting and unhealthy sexual fantasies” that made her skin crawl.

Judge Lucas emphasized the profound and lasting impact of Sanders’ crimes on his victims. As a result, Sanders, who resides in Coles Mill Close, Holsworthy, Devon, was sentenced to four years and eight months for each of the counts related to producing indecent images, with all sentences to run concurrently. Additional sentences ranged from 12 months for some of the lesser charges to six months for others, all to be served concurrently with the primary sentence. A forfeiture and destruction order was issued for the pen camera and Sanders’ hard drive, ensuring that these devices would be permanently removed from circulation.

Furthermore, Sanders was placed under a Sexual Offences Prevention Order, which restricts his access to the internet without supervision, prohibits him from associating with children, and bans him from taking photographs of minors. This case highlights the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to combat child exploitation and protect vulnerable victims from predators like Christian Sanders.