DEREK LONG OF BODMIN SENTENCED FOR INDECENT IMAGES OF CHILDREN

In March 2014, a Bodmin man named Derek Long received a sentence after admitting to multiple charges related to indecent images of children.

The investigation began when police raided Long’s home on June 12, 2012, following a separate inquiry into his financial transactions. During the investigation, it was revealed that Long, who was unemployed at the time, had used his Visa card to purchase a disc titled "Nathan’s Gift Episode One," which contained indecent images of boys. The disc had been supplied to Long by another individual who was also under investigation.

During the search, police seized Long’s computer equipment, uncovering thousands of indecent photographs of young children as well as cartoon-like images. Among the images found was a picture of a naked girl approximately seven years old, categorized as one of the less severe types of such material.

Elaine Hobson representing the Crown Prosecution Service stated that Long told police he did not find the images sexual. She explained, “He says that he thinks the images are art… he did say that he finds the images arousing but did not get physically aroused.”

At an earlier hearing, Long, aged 65 and residing on Meadow Plash, pleaded guilty to 12 charges of creating indecent images classified between levels 1 and 4 on the police’s severity scale, with level 5 being the most serious. In addition, Long admitted to possessing three prohibited images of a child. The court was informed that between December 2011 and June 2012, Long downloaded over 3,000 images.

Chris Andrews, representing Long, highlighted his client’s mental health issues, stating that Long relied on antidepressant medication and had attempted suicide three times previously. He added, “He knows inside himself that he has an addiction and he has had an addiction to this type of material for a number of years.” Mr. Andrews also said Long wanted help for his problems.

During sentencing, Judge Christopher Harvey Clark, QC, dismissed Long’s claim that the images were art, stating, “For you to describe such images to the police officer as art was complete nonsense. These images are not art. These images are created to give sexual titillation… these images necessarily involve the exploitation and abuse of children.”

Long was sentenced to four months in prison, suspended for two years. He was also ordered to participate in an internet sex offenders’ programme under probation supervision, made subject to a sexual offences prevention order, and instructed to sign the sex offenders’ register for seven years. Additionally, Long was ordered to pay £400 towards the prosecution costs.