DAVID POMEROY CAUGHT IN PLYMOUTH WITH CHILD INDECENT IMAGES

In March 2010, a disturbing case unfolded in Plymouth involving David Pomeroy, a 45-year-old man residing on Hemerdon Heights, Plympton. Pomeroy was apprehended after his own daughter discovered inappropriate images on a family computer, leading to a series of police investigations and a subsequent court hearing.

According to court records, Pomeroy had previously admitted to possessing over 850 indecent images of children, along with six counts of creating such images. The incident that brought his case to light occurred in July 2008, when his 18-year-old daughter found two indecent images stored on the family computer. At the time, Pomeroy had been staying at his ex-wife’s house to look after his two young boys.

Following her discovery, the daughter alerted the authorities. Law enforcement officers responded swiftly, seizing the computer and conducting a thorough investigation. During the search, they uncovered additional images and movies, which were stored across two more computers. These devices contained hundreds of indecent images categorized from category one to four, indicating varying degrees of severity, along with several indecent movies.

Prosecutor Piers Norsworthy detailed the extent of Pomeroy’s online activities, revealing that the defendant had admitted during police interviews to downloading such images over a period of years. He also used emails and chat rooms to communicate with others who shared similar interests in children, particularly male children. This behavior highlighted a disturbing pattern of ongoing engagement with illegal material.

Defense attorney Malcolm Clark expressed Pomeroy’s remorse and embarrassment regarding his sexuality. Clark suggested that Pomeroy had an enduring interest in such material from an early age, and that alcohol had played a role in giving him the courage to access these images online. Clark’s comments aimed to provide some context for Pomeroy’s actions, though they did little to mitigate the seriousness of the offenses.

Judge Miranda Robertshaw delivered the verdict, describing the images as depicting boys in "grossly abusive circumstances." She emphasized that the offenses were made worse by the fact that Pomeroy left these images accessible, where children could potentially find them. Additionally, the fact that Pomeroy had exchanged material with other paedophiles, as he admitted, further aggravated his case.

Consequently, Judge Robertshaw sentenced Pomeroy to 12 months in prison. She also ordered that he be registered as a sex offender for a period of ten years, underscoring the gravity of his crimes and the ongoing risk posed by such behavior.