DOMONIC THOMPSON FROM DARLINGTON SENTENCED FOR CHILD ABUSE IMAGES IN TEESSIDE COURT

In a case that has shocked the community of Darlington and the surrounding areas, Domonic Thompson, a man with a complex background as a former Army sergeant and a dedicated charity fundraiser, was sentenced to nine months in prison for his involvement in the distribution and possession of indecent images of children. The sentencing took place at Teesside Crown Court, where the court heard detailed accounts of Thompson’s disturbing online activities and his double life.

Thompson, aged 40, was found to have engaged in illicit communications with paedophiles across the United Kingdom, using the alias 'Heavy Rocker' to conceal his identity. His online interactions included sharing graphic and pornographic photographs of children with other offenders, including a dangerous rapist who was later jailed indefinitely for the horrific crime of raping a four-year-old girl in Wales. These exchanges were uncovered during a police raid on his residence in Kingsway, Darlington, last autumn.

During the raid, officers discovered approximately 1,300 images of child abuse stored on two computers at Thompson’s home. Evidence also indicated that he had actively shared these vile images with others in the online community. When questioned by police, Thompson refused to answer any questions and initially denied the allegations, maintaining his innocence until the trial proceedings commenced earlier this month.

At the court hearing, Thompson ultimately pleaded guilty to 12 charges of distributing indecent photographs of children, two counts of making such images, and possession of a further 1,299 illicit images. The court was informed that he was affiliated with a Territorial Army centre in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, until he resigned following his arrest in September. His military career spanned 19 years, during which he served with the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME), primarily working with reservists. Despite his military background, the Ministry of Defence confirmed that Thompson handed in his notice during the legal proceedings and officially left the service on August 7, the day after admitting to the charges.

Thompson’s involvement in charitable activities was also highlighted during the trial. His solicitor, Annelise Haugstad, described him as a man of positive character who had raised funds for hospitals in Darlington and Bishop Auckland through charity motorcycle rides. He was also a father to two children and a stepfather to two others, with supporters and community members speaking highly of his character prior to the revelations.

Judge Michael Taylor delivered a stern sentence, emphasizing the severity of Thompson’s crimes. He stated, “You say that you came into contact with this by accident, but the reality is that within a couple of days you were receiving and exchanging images with a number of like-minded individuals. Let there be no doubt about it, that without people to look at this material there would not be the abuse of children which leads to the creation of these images. This is straightforward criminal abuse of children and the consequences are horrific, and anybody who has to look at these is always disturbed by what they see. You chose to carry on looking at these images and distributing them. You were arrested and did not avail yourself of the opportunity to come clean at the first opportunity.”

In addition to his prison sentence, Thompson was ordered to sign the sex offenders’ register for ten years and was prohibited from possessing any computer hardware or software at his home. The court’s decision reflects the gravity of his actions and the ongoing concern about online child exploitation. As Thompson’s military career officially ended on August 7, he will not face further disciplinary action from the Army, according to a Ministry of Defence spokesperson, who confirmed that he had completed his notice period and left the service without further repercussions.