KEYNSHAM MAN DAVID DUKES BANNED FROM LIBRARY AFTER VIEWING CHILD ABUSE IMAGES IN BRISTOL COURT

In January 2018, a man from Keynsham, identified as David Dukes, found himself at the center of a serious criminal investigation after suspicious activity at a local library led to disturbing discoveries. Staff at Keynsham Library initially suspected Dukes of viewing indecent images on a public computer, raising alarms about potential child exploitation. However, the situation escalated when authorities conducted a thorough investigation, revealing that Dukes was indeed viewing inappropriate material involving minors.

During the police search of his residence on Rubens Close in Keynsham, officers examined a USB stick belonging to Dukes. The device contained a small collection of child abuse images, which included photographs of children in various states of undress. Among these images, one depicted clothed girls aged between 14 and 15 engaging in kissing, while 137 other images fell into the lowest Category C concern, showing minors in various stages of undress. The police confirmed that the number of images was relatively small compared to other cases, which often involve thousands of still photos and videos.

Following the investigation, David Dukes, aged 40, pleaded guilty to two charges of making an indecent photograph of a child. The case was heard at Bristol Crown Court, where Judge Douglas Field sentenced him to a two-year community order. In his remarks, the judge acknowledged Dukes' previously good character and employment status, noting that he was likely to retain his job. Judge Field also commented on Dukes' personal circumstances, stating, “You have led quite an isolated life and suffered periods of depression.”

As part of his sentence, Dukes was subjected to several conditions aimed at preventing future offending. He was ordered to complete 100 hours of unpaid work, undergo rehabilitation, and register as a sex offender for a period of five years. Additionally, a sexual harm prevention order was imposed, designed to restrict his activities and reduce the risk of re-offending. Dukes was also required to pay costs amounting to £600 and an £85 victim surcharge. The USB stick containing the illicit images was subsequently destroyed to prevent any further misuse.