DEREK LATCHFORD OF DOWNHAM ADMITS TO MAKING AND POSSESSING CHILD INDECENT IMAGES AT KING'S LYNN MAGISTRATES COURT

In a serious case brought before the magistrates in King’s Lynn, an 80-year-old man from Downham, identified as Derek Latchford, has admitted to a series of disturbing offences involving indecent images of children. The court heard that Latchford, a resident of Tinkers Way in Downham, pleaded guilty to multiple charges related to the creation and possession of highly explicit and illegal material.

Specifically, he admitted to producing 18 still images and 2 videos classified as Category A, which denotes the most severe level of indecency under the law. In addition, he confessed to making 32 still images categorized as Category B and a further 87 as Category C, indicating a range of increasingly explicit content. These offences spanned a period from March 11, 2011, to February 8, 2019.

Furthermore, Latchford also pleaded guilty to possessing a prohibited image of a child, with the same timeframe applying. The charges did not stop there; he also admitted to a third serious offence involving collaboration with another individual. This involved possessing 65 extreme pornographic images depicting a person engaging in sexual acts with an animal, either alive or dead. This particular offence was committed between January 1 and February 28, 2019.

During the court proceedings, prosecutor Michael Devaney revealed that police investigations uncovered evidence suggesting that Latchford had used software tools designed to delete and erase data, indicating an attempt to conceal his activities. The magistrates acknowledged that their current sentencing powers were insufficient to deal with the gravity of the offences, and therefore, the case was adjourned to Norwich Crown Court for further proceedings. The next hearing date has yet to be scheduled, leaving the case ongoing as authorities pursue justice for the victims involved.