DENNIS PROCTOR IN BARRY, SOUTH WALES, JAILED FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY AND ABUSE

In June 2014, Dennis Proctor, a 61-year-old man from Barry, South Wales, was sentenced to 13 years in prison after being convicted of multiple offences related to child abuse and pornography. Proctor led a double life — outwardly a respected employee at Aberthaw Power Station for four decades, divorced with children, but secretly filming children on the street, in gardens, and during holidays, while also collecting thousands of images depicting child rape.

Prosecutors revealed that he had installed hidden cameras around South Wales and abroad to catch children undressing, and had filmed himself with two young girls. When questioned by police, Proctor claimed he had always enjoyed photography, but admitted his hobby had 'got out of hand.'

His secret was uncovered when police, conducting routine inquiries about a missing person, visited his home. The police description stated they found laminated child pornography pictures decorating his bedroom walls, with additional images scattered on the floor and displayed in a picture frame cube. When police entered a second room, they observed a computer, printer, and laminating machine.

A search of his electronic devices revealed over 2,000 images and films, 1,450 of which depicted children and infants being raped by adults. Some material showed children being restrained and gagged. Police also discovered that Proctor had hidden cameras over the years, which they had to have the children’s parents help identify.

Proctor told investigators that he labeled some images as 'memories' and admitted to deriving sexual satisfaction from watching them later. He explained, 'I’ve always done photography, but obviously it’s just got out of hand.'

During sentencing, Judge Tom Crowther QC condemned Proctor, stating, 'Police officers who went to your house found a glut of child pornography of the most distressing kind – every image a real child being abused. And you were obsessed with secret filming. You may have a good 40-year work record, but for a lengthy part of that, you led a secret life targeting and abusing children.' The judge sentenced Proctor to 13 years in total, with nine years custody and the remainder on licence.

DC David Rich, leading the investigation, noted that six officers took several days to review all the material and found the case particularly distressing for them and the victims’ families. He also highlighted that Proctor was not initially on their radar but was caught through effective cooperation with the Crown Prosecution Service.

Proctor pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including indecent assault, possessing and downloading indecent images, and was placed on the sex offenders’ register for life, facing strict restrictions for the foreseeable future.