DAMIEN TOOLE FROM PEWSEY CAUGHT WITH CHILD SEX IMAGES AND EXTREME PORNOGRAPHY
| Red Rose Database
Pewsey Sexual Abuser
In a disturbing case that unfolded in Salisbury Magistrates’ Court, a dental receptionist discovered highly inappropriate and illegal images on a patient's mobile phone, leading to a police investigation and the subsequent arrest of Damien Toole, a 46-year-old man residing on Goddard Avenue in Pewsey.
According to court reports, the incident occurred when the staff member at a local dental practice was attempting to locate the owner’s contact details after the patient left his phone behind. During this search, she unexpectedly came across a series of shocking images depicting child sexual abuse. Recognizing the severity of the content, she promptly contacted law enforcement authorities.
Police officers responded swiftly, visiting Toole’s residence in Pewsey to carry out a search. During the investigation, they seized multiple memory cards from his home, which contained a total of 1,450 images classified at various levels of severity, including ten that involved indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs of children. The images ranged from less severe to the most extreme, with some depicting bestiality involving a woman. Additionally, the police found 16 extreme pornographic photographs involving adults and animals, as well as six video clips of similar content.
Further examination of Toole’s mobile phone revealed the presence of 54 images at the lowest level of severity and one at the highest level. During police interviews, Toole admitted that he had been downloading these illicit images from the internet onto his phone over a period of approximately two years. When questioned about his motives, he claimed he did not understand why he engaged in this activity, asserting that his actions were not driven by sexual desire but did acknowledge that he knew the images were wrong.
In addition to the illegal images, police found 17.5 grams of cannabis in Toole’s home, with a street value estimated at around £35. When asked if he had been using cannabis while viewing the images, Toole confirmed that he had.
During the court hearing, the prosecution, led by Vivien Thatcher, outlined the details of the case and emphasized the gravity of the offences. The defense, represented by Trevor Line, described Toole as a man with very low self-esteem, living alone in Pewsey since moving there four years prior to be near his elderly parents. The defense highlighted that Toole had no children, no close friends, and spent his leisure time engaging in solitary activities such as cycling and walking his dog.
Judge Paul Read addressed Toole directly, noting the seriousness of the charges. He acknowledged that Toole appeared to have been naive at the time of the offences but emphasized the harm caused by such images, especially to the children depicted. The judge stated, “These are very serious charges. We accept that when you committed these offences you were coming from a very naive standpoint. You are now aware of the harm that these images cause. They (the children in the photographs) may be a long way away but they are still children.”
He further warned Toole that he had come very close to imprisonment, but instead, he was sentenced to a three-year community order. This included a requirement to attend an accredited sex offenders’ rehabilitation program and to sign the sex offenders’ register for five years. The court made it clear that prison would have been a possible outcome but was deemed unnecessary given the circumstances and Toole’s apparent remorse.
Throughout the proceedings, Toole’s elderly parents sat quietly in the courtroom, witnessing the case unfold. The judge’s comments underscored the importance of understanding the profound impact of such crimes, even when committed from a seemingly naive or misguided perspective.
According to court reports, the incident occurred when the staff member at a local dental practice was attempting to locate the owner’s contact details after the patient left his phone behind. During this search, she unexpectedly came across a series of shocking images depicting child sexual abuse. Recognizing the severity of the content, she promptly contacted law enforcement authorities.
Police officers responded swiftly, visiting Toole’s residence in Pewsey to carry out a search. During the investigation, they seized multiple memory cards from his home, which contained a total of 1,450 images classified at various levels of severity, including ten that involved indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs of children. The images ranged from less severe to the most extreme, with some depicting bestiality involving a woman. Additionally, the police found 16 extreme pornographic photographs involving adults and animals, as well as six video clips of similar content.
Further examination of Toole’s mobile phone revealed the presence of 54 images at the lowest level of severity and one at the highest level. During police interviews, Toole admitted that he had been downloading these illicit images from the internet onto his phone over a period of approximately two years. When questioned about his motives, he claimed he did not understand why he engaged in this activity, asserting that his actions were not driven by sexual desire but did acknowledge that he knew the images were wrong.
In addition to the illegal images, police found 17.5 grams of cannabis in Toole’s home, with a street value estimated at around £35. When asked if he had been using cannabis while viewing the images, Toole confirmed that he had.
During the court hearing, the prosecution, led by Vivien Thatcher, outlined the details of the case and emphasized the gravity of the offences. The defense, represented by Trevor Line, described Toole as a man with very low self-esteem, living alone in Pewsey since moving there four years prior to be near his elderly parents. The defense highlighted that Toole had no children, no close friends, and spent his leisure time engaging in solitary activities such as cycling and walking his dog.
Judge Paul Read addressed Toole directly, noting the seriousness of the charges. He acknowledged that Toole appeared to have been naive at the time of the offences but emphasized the harm caused by such images, especially to the children depicted. The judge stated, “These are very serious charges. We accept that when you committed these offences you were coming from a very naive standpoint. You are now aware of the harm that these images cause. They (the children in the photographs) may be a long way away but they are still children.”
He further warned Toole that he had come very close to imprisonment, but instead, he was sentenced to a three-year community order. This included a requirement to attend an accredited sex offenders’ rehabilitation program and to sign the sex offenders’ register for five years. The court made it clear that prison would have been a possible outcome but was deemed unnecessary given the circumstances and Toole’s apparent remorse.
Throughout the proceedings, Toole’s elderly parents sat quietly in the courtroom, witnessing the case unfold. The judge’s comments underscored the importance of understanding the profound impact of such crimes, even when committed from a seemingly naive or misguided perspective.