DAVID BONNAR FROM NEWBOROUGH JAILED FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY IN SCARBOROUGH

In December 2016, a man identified as David Bonnar, aged 46 and residing in Newborough, was sentenced to a 15-month prison term after being found guilty of possessing a substantial collection of child pornography images. The case revealed that Bonnar had downloaded more than 23,000 indecent images from the internet, a discovery that shocked the local community and highlighted the severity of his offenses.

Police authorities conducted a raid on Bonnar’s residence in Scarborough in November 2014. During this operation, law enforcement officers seized multiple electronic devices, including laptops, tablets, and various memory sticks. The investigation uncovered that Bonnar had stored the illicit material across these devices, with five of them containing extreme child pornography. Prosecutor Chloe Fairley detailed that Bonnar had actively searched the web for such depraved content, indicating a deliberate and sustained effort to acquire these images.

Further examination of the seized devices revealed that Bonnar had meticulously organized the images and videos into separate folders labeled ‘picture’ and ‘video’. The police found a total of 23,106 images, which formed the basis of multiple charges against him for possession of child pornography. Initially, Bonnar denied the allegations, claiming that he was searching for images of older teenagers rather than children. He maintained his innocence up until the day of his trial earlier this year, when he ultimately pleaded guilty to 11 counts of possessing indecent material.

His case was adjourned until last week, when he appeared before the court for sentencing. The prosecution emphasized that Bonnar had downloaded these disturbing images over a period of six months, employing passwords and other methods to conceal his activities. The evidence indicated that there were numerous victims depicted in the images and videos Bonnar had acquired. It was also suggested that Bonnar used an online alias, along with fake email and bank accounts, to search for and access child sex abuse material. He claimed that he used false details to explore his family tree on an ancestry website, a defense that was dismissed by the judge.

During the hearing, defence lawyer Taryn Turner described Bonnar as an unemployed and lonely man who was living alone at the time of the police raid. However, Judge Paul Batty QC was unequivocal in his remarks, condemning Bonnar’s actions as the creation of a “large library collection” of extreme child pornography, which he described as “loathsome.” The judge dismissed Bonnar’s explanation about using fake accounts for genealogical research, asserting that his true interest was in child pornography. The judge emphasized the gravity of the offense, noting that the majority of the children depicted were very young.

In addition to the prison sentence, Judge Batty ordered Bonnar to register as a sex offender for the next ten years. Furthermore, he imposed a sexual-harm prevention order that will remain in effect indefinitely, restricting Bonnar’s access to the internet and other related activities. The court’s decision underscores the serious nature of the crimes committed and the ongoing threat posed by individuals involved in the possession and distribution of child abuse images.