FRANK TAYLOR FROM SOUTH BENFLEET SENTENCED FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY OFFENSES IN BASILDON

In January 2007, a computer programmer from South Benfleet was sentenced to four months in jail after being found with a collection of 285 images depicting children being sexually abused.

Frank Taylor, aged 56, of Greenways, received his sentence at Basildon Crown Court following his guilty plea to eight counts of creating indecent images of children and one count of possessing such images on his computer, spanning the period from May 2002 to May 2005.

Child pornography is classified into five levels, with level five representing the most extreme material.

Judge Deborah Taylor addressed the defendant, stating, "I have viewed these images, and the level three and level two pictures show children under ten years old in abusive circumstances which are wholly wrong. I have no doubt that any right-minded person would think so."

She added, "You kept them for your sexual gratification. Children have to be protected from sexual exploitation, and downloading this type of material contributes to this kind of abuse and further exploitation."

In addition to his jail term, Judge Taylor imposed a lifelong ban preventing Taylor from working with children and issued a sexual offences prevention order. This order prohibits him from working with or being alone with anyone under 16, living in a home where minors are present, or associating with known sex offenders.

Colin Webb, representing Taylor, stated that his client had expressed remorse and was eager to seek help to prevent further offenses. Mr. Webb noted, "There is no suggestion that Taylor had shown the photos to anyone else, most of which were at the lowest level of severity." He also revealed that Taylor had admitted to deliberately downloading the images when questioned by the Probation Service.

Taylor was also required to register as a sex offender for seven years.