DAMIEN KYDD FROM GUISBOROUGH SENTENCED FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY AND BREACHES OF COURT ORDERS IN TEESSIDE

In March 2019, Damien Kydd, a 34-year-old resident of Raithwaite Close in Guisborough, was formally sentenced to a lengthy prison term after being found guilty of possessing a vast collection of child abuse images and breaching court-imposed restrictions. The case, heard at Teesside Crown Court, revealed disturbing details about Kydd's activities and his history of criminal behavior.

According to court reports, Kydd was apprehended after attempting to evade arrest on April 10 of the previous year. Law enforcement officers discovered him attempting to flee the scene, and during the subsequent search of his residence, they seized multiple electronic devices, including a Samsung Note phone concealed in his sock, along with two rucksacks, a camera, a laptop, and a drone. These items contained a horrifying trove of illegal content.

The devices held a total of 3,161 child abuse images, with 810 classified at the most severe level, some depicting acts of rape. The collection also included 62 hours of videos, some of which featured very young children, even infants, in vulnerable situations. Prosecutor Harry Hadfield provided a harrowing account of the material, describing some of the most disturbing images and videos. He also revealed that an additional 40,293 ungraded images were found on Kydd’s devices, indicating a significant and deliberate accumulation of illegal content.

Evidence suggested that Kydd actively searched for and downloaded images portraying child sexual abuse, which demonstrated a clear intent and premeditation. Despite being under a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO), Kydd failed to disclose the devices to police or cooperate with investigations, breaching the conditions of his order. Further complicating his criminal record, Kydd had used his foster mother’s details to secure a £17,000 loan, which he then spent on himself, adding a financial dimension to his offenses.

Kydd, who resides on Helmsley Drive in Guisborough, admitted to multiple charges, including three counts of making indecent photographs of children, three counts of breaching his SHPO, and one count of fraud. His criminal history is extensive, beginning with a conviction in 2008 for fraud and theft from an employer. Over the years, he has accumulated a total of 29 convictions, including a two-and-a-half-year sentence in 2009 for sexual activity in the presence of a child and possession of indecent images. Subsequent sentences in 2013 and 2015 further penalized him for possessing more indecent images and breaching court orders.

Most recently, in May of the previous year, Kydd was sentenced to two years in prison for breaching his SHPO by traveling to Amsterdam, opening a bank account without informing authorities, and possessing a mobile device without permission. During that period, he also stole blank cheques from his foster mother, who had raised him since infancy. These breaches led to his recall to serve the remainder of a five-year sentence imposed in 2015, during which further investigations uncovered the latest offenses involving child abuse images.

Judge Simon Bourne-Arton QC, the Recorder of Middlesbrough, addressed Kydd directly, emphasizing the severity of his criminal record and his disturbing interest in very young children. The judge highlighted the sheer volume of illegal images, including 40,000 unclassified pictures, underscoring the depravity of Kydd’s activities. As a result, Kydd was sentenced to six and a half years in prison and was subjected to a new, indefinite SHPO, restricting his contact with minors and his access to certain devices.

In a related case from May 2018, Kydd was also convicted for breaching court orders by traveling to Amsterdam. Police found cannabis and amphetamine at his home during a visit following reports of his overseas trip. They also discovered that he had obtained a new mobile phone with internet access and opened a bank account without notifying authorities, all in violation of the restrictions imposed when he was previously jailed. Additionally, Kydd had stolen three cheques from his foster mother, a woman who had cared for him since childhood, causing her significant distress.

His criminal history includes multiple convictions dating back to 2008, starting with fraud and theft, followed by sentences for sexual offenses and possession of indecent images. Despite previous incarcerations, Kydd continued to breach court orders and engage in illegal activities, demonstrating a pattern of compulsive behavior. Judge Peter Armstrong remarked on his substantial record and the persistent nature of his offenses, indicating that his behavior appeared to be driven by an uncontrollable compulsion. Kydd’s latest sentencing reflects the seriousness of his crimes and the ongoing threat he poses to the community.