DAVID ELLIOTT BASINGSTOKE PENSIONER ESCAPES PRISON AFTER POLICE DISCOVER 3,000 INDECENT IMAGES
| Red Rose Database
Basingstoke Child Sexual Abuser
In a case that has shocked the local community of Basingstoke, a 64-year-old man named David Owen Elliott, residing on Tennyson Way in the South Ham area, narrowly avoided imprisonment after police uncovered a disturbing collection of indecent images on his personal computer. The incident came to light during a police investigation in June, which revealed that Elliott possessed over 3,000 illicit images stored across various devices, including his computer and a USB stick.
These images were categorized into different levels of severity, with some classified as Category A, indicating the most severe content involving young children. The police also found images depicting young girls in compromising poses with animals, as well as photographs illustrating acts of pain and suffering. Additionally, there were numerous images that had not been categorized, suggesting a significant and disturbing collection.
During the court proceedings at Winchester Crown Court on Friday, July 8, Elliott pleaded guilty to three counts related to the creation and possession of indecent images of children aged between one and 16 years old. Prosecutor Russell Payne detailed that Elliott had cooperated with police, providing passwords to access his devices. Despite his cooperation, forensic examiners discovered images of the most severe category (Category A) on his hard drive, along with images from categories B and C.
The court was informed that Elliott had also obtained images from file-sharing websites, further implicating him in the distribution and possession of illegal material. The police investigation revealed that Elliott’s collection included thousands of images, some of which depicted extreme pornography, although many remained uncategorized.
In his defense, Elliott’s lawyer, Berenice Mulvanny, described her client as a “frail and vulnerable 64-year-old,” emphasizing his remorse and cooperation. She stated that Elliott had shown genuine regret for his actions and did not attempt to justify or minimize his behavior. Mulvanny also highlighted that Elliott posed a low risk to children and that there was no evidence of grooming or attempts to contact minors. Furthermore, she noted that Elliott had confided in his wife and two adult children about his situation, and they had been supportive throughout the ordeal.
Judge Ignatius Hughes, taking into account Elliott’s early guilty plea and his cooperation with authorities, sentenced him to 12 months in prison, suspended for two years. The sentence covered three counts involving the creation and possession of 235 Category A images, 601 Category B images, and 2,695 Category C images, along with moving images. Additionally, Elliott was subjected to a sexual harm prevention order and will remain on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely, ensuring ongoing monitoring and restrictions.
This case underscores the serious nature of possessing and distributing indecent images of children, even among individuals who may not have a history of offending. The community of Basingstoke is left to grapple with the implications of such disturbing material being found in the possession of a local resident, and the legal system’s response aims to serve justice while emphasizing the importance of safeguarding vulnerable children.
These images were categorized into different levels of severity, with some classified as Category A, indicating the most severe content involving young children. The police also found images depicting young girls in compromising poses with animals, as well as photographs illustrating acts of pain and suffering. Additionally, there were numerous images that had not been categorized, suggesting a significant and disturbing collection.
During the court proceedings at Winchester Crown Court on Friday, July 8, Elliott pleaded guilty to three counts related to the creation and possession of indecent images of children aged between one and 16 years old. Prosecutor Russell Payne detailed that Elliott had cooperated with police, providing passwords to access his devices. Despite his cooperation, forensic examiners discovered images of the most severe category (Category A) on his hard drive, along with images from categories B and C.
The court was informed that Elliott had also obtained images from file-sharing websites, further implicating him in the distribution and possession of illegal material. The police investigation revealed that Elliott’s collection included thousands of images, some of which depicted extreme pornography, although many remained uncategorized.
In his defense, Elliott’s lawyer, Berenice Mulvanny, described her client as a “frail and vulnerable 64-year-old,” emphasizing his remorse and cooperation. She stated that Elliott had shown genuine regret for his actions and did not attempt to justify or minimize his behavior. Mulvanny also highlighted that Elliott posed a low risk to children and that there was no evidence of grooming or attempts to contact minors. Furthermore, she noted that Elliott had confided in his wife and two adult children about his situation, and they had been supportive throughout the ordeal.
Judge Ignatius Hughes, taking into account Elliott’s early guilty plea and his cooperation with authorities, sentenced him to 12 months in prison, suspended for two years. The sentence covered three counts involving the creation and possession of 235 Category A images, 601 Category B images, and 2,695 Category C images, along with moving images. Additionally, Elliott was subjected to a sexual harm prevention order and will remain on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely, ensuring ongoing monitoring and restrictions.
This case underscores the serious nature of possessing and distributing indecent images of children, even among individuals who may not have a history of offending. The community of Basingstoke is left to grapple with the implications of such disturbing material being found in the possession of a local resident, and the legal system’s response aims to serve justice while emphasizing the importance of safeguarding vulnerable children.