ED HARBOUR, THANINGTON AND MARGATE MAN, JAILED FOR CHILD SEX IMAGE OFFENCES

In April 2012, taxi driver Ed Harbour, who was nearing retirement age and had a wife, family, a comfortable home, and a stable job, saw his life dramatically change due to his illegal activities. Harbour, aged 63, was found to have an obsession with viewing and possessing disturbing images of children, which eventually led to his arrest and imprisonment.

His dark secret was uncovered when he handed two computers to a 17-year-old IT specialist for repair. The technician discovered images of an 11-year-old girl naked, which raised immediate concern. After consulting with an adult friend, the specialist reported the matter to police.

Police officers raided Harbour’s residence on Athelstan Road in Thanington in April last year and seized additional computer hard drives. Forensic analysis revealed over five hours of videos featuring children as young as four, including content involving bondage. Authorities also found highly explicit content involving animals, with titles such as: Rottweiler Rampage and Animal Farm, depicting adult women engaging in sex with a black dog.

Mr. Rooke, the prosecution representative, stated that a particular three-minute video showed a young teenage girl having sex with a white dog. Harbour, now residing on Canterbury Road in Margate, admitted to committing 23 offences related to downloading illegal images of children.

Defense lawyer Kerry Waite explained the profound consequences Harbour faced, saying: “He has now suffered a significant loss as a result of his involvement in these activities — although he accepts he has brought this upon himself. He has lost his good character, his marriage (his wife divorced him and demands no contact), his family including step-children and step-grandchildren, his employment, and work contracts. He has lost most of his financial stability and is now isolated from his family and friends, most of whom have disowned him.”

Waite further mentioned that Harbour’s future prospects are bleak due to a 10-year Sexual Offences Prevention Order and the requirement to register as a sex offender, which would hinder any hopes of resuming a normal relationship.

Judge James O’Mahony sentenced Harbour to eight months in prison. He remarked: “You are 63 and have never been convicted of any offence before. Now you have pleaded guilty to charges of downloading images, some of which are the most appalling levels of depravity. One shudders to think what happened to some of these children.”