DONATAS RINKAUSKAS FROM CHARD CAUGHT VIEWING CHILD PORNOGRAPHY AND ATTACKED BY FLATMATE

In January 2019, a disturbing incident unfolded in the town of Chard involving Donatas Rinkauskas, a man with a troubling secret. Rinkauskas was discovered engaging in illegal online activity when he was caught viewing child sexual abuse images on his computer. The situation escalated when his flatmate, upon uncovering what Rinkauskas was doing, confronted him and subsequently assaulted him at their shared residence.

The police were called to the scene following the assault, and during their investigation, Rinkauskas voluntarily confessed to the officers that he had been browsing the internet for indecent images of children. His admission was made at his home, located on Hornsbury Hill, where officers seized his computer for examination. The forensic analysis of his device revealed that he had been viewing illegal images across all three categories of seriousness, indicating a pattern of disturbing online behavior.

Rinkauskas, aged 30, appeared before Somerset Magistrates sitting at Yeovil to face charges related to his online activities. He pleaded guilty to multiple offences, including creating an indecent image of a child classified as Category A, the most severe level, which he committed at Holyrood Street in Chard on or before May 15, 2018. Additionally, he admitted to possessing a Category B image and a significant collection of 96 indecent images categorized as Category C.

Prosecutor Emma Lenanton explained that the case came to light after the assault at Rinkauskas’s residence. The police responded to the report of the attack and, during their investigation, discovered the illegal images on his computer. Rinkauskas was cooperative during the police interview, fully admitting to the offences. The court was informed that he would be subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order in the future to prevent any further offending.

The magistrates adjourned the case until February 1, when Rinkauskas is scheduled to appear before a judge in Taunton for sentencing. In the meantime, the Probation Service has been instructed to prepare a pre-sentence report. The court also ordered Rinkauskas to attend Chard police station within three days of the hearing to sign the Sex Offenders Register. He was granted unconditional bail and remains free until his next court appearance.