EDWIN HICKMAN'S SHAMEFUL CHILD PORNOGRAPHY CASE IN KIDDERMINSTER

In July 2005, a disturbing case emerged involving Edwin Hickman, a 61-year-old retired accountant and devout churchgoer from Kidderminster, who was found to have downloaded and viewed explicit child pornography from the internet. The case was brought to light during a police operation targeting the child exploitation industry, revealing the extent of Hickman’s involvement in this heinous activity.

Authorities seized two computers from Hickman’s residence on Cedar Crescent, a street directly opposite the town’s police station, along with floppy disks and compact disks stored in his garage. These digital storage devices contained a shocking collection of illicit material, including 379 photographs depicting victims as young as two years old, and 30 videos, some lasting up to 18 minutes, which showcased disturbing scenes involving children and adults engaged in sexual acts, as detailed by prosecutor Peter Arnold.

Hickman admitted to 17 sample counts of creating indecent images of children, and his guilty plea was accepted by the court. During the proceedings at Worcester Crown Court, Judge John Cavell, who was compelled to view some of the vile content himself, sentenced Hickman to six months in prison. The judge emphasized the gravity of the offense, stating, “The evil of those like you who view images is that it furthers sexual exploitation of children.” He described the images as “appalling,” illustrating victims in degrading and perverted circumstances, which underscores the severity of the crime.

It was also revealed that Hickman had a prior conviction for indecent assault on a boy in 1994, for which he had received a three-year probation sentence. The police action against him was part of a broader international operation called Operation Universe, launched to dismantle child pornography networks worldwide. During the raid in November of the previous year, Hickman refused to comment when questioned by authorities.

Defense lawyer Michael Aspinall provided context for Hickman’s actions, explaining that he had been sexually abused during his time at boarding school and that he sought solace in viewing images of other victims. Aspinall also noted that Hickman was under significant stress at the time, with pressure from clients affecting his mental state. Hickman, who also volunteered for the Red Cross, had sought medical help and spent 32 hours with a psychologist attempting to understand his motivations. Aspinall stated, “He’s looked at his demons and faced them head on. He doesn’t seek to excuse or hide his behaviour.”

Throughout the court proceedings, Hickman’s wife was present in the public gallery, standing by her husband, unaware of his criminal activities. In addition to his prison sentence, the judge ordered Hickman to register as a sex offender for five years, a measure intended to monitor and prevent further offenses of this nature.