GARY WHITEHILL FROM RODBOURNE SENTENCED FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY OFFENSES IN SOMERSET

In September 2005, a disturbing case emerged involving Gary Whitehill, a resident of Rodbourne, who was found to have continued accessing and possessing indecent images of children despite police intervention. The case unfolded after Whitehill's wife discovered partially shredded photographs depicting child abuse at their family home, prompting her to alert authorities.

Whitehill, aged 43 at the time, was under investigation following her discovery. She had found shredded pieces of paper containing small but recognizable images of children engaged in sexual acts. Unsure of what to do initially, she kept the fragments, which ultimately led to police involvement. During the investigation, officers visited the Whitehill residence and confiscated the only remaining computer, which was still connected to the internet.

Upon examination of the computer's hard drive, authorities found a limited number of indecent images dating back over two years. It was revealed that Whitehill, upon realizing police might be approaching, had removed the hard drive containing the offending material. Due to the backlog at the police hi-tech unit, Whitehill was released on bail while the search for additional images continued. The investigation took a further turn in February of the following year when police re-arrested him at his home. During this second visit, officers discovered another computer, which was also seized for analysis.

Further investigation revealed that this second device contained additional child abuse images, which had been downloaded after his initial arrest. In total, police recovered 290 indecent images from the two hard drives. Whitehill, who resides on Somerset Road in Rodbourne, pleaded guilty to 15 counts of possessing and creating indecent images of children.

During the court proceedings, defense lawyer Robin Shellard acknowledged that Whitehill struggled with gambling, alcohol, and pornography addiction, which he said had led to these extreme behaviors. Shellard emphasized that although Whitehill had removed a hard drive before police arrived, he could not be held accountable for the contents that might have been stored on it. He described his client as a 'broken man,' having lost everything due to his own actions, including potential damage to relationships with his wife, stepchildren, and child.

Since his arrest, Shellard noted that Whitehill had gained some understanding of the harm inflicted on the victims of child exploitation. However, the court took a serious view of the case. Judge Tom Longbotham highlighted the aggravating factor that Whitehill continued his offending after the initial police discovery. As a result, Whitehill was sentenced to one year in prison, with an additional two-year extended license to participate in a sex offenders' rehabilitation program. Furthermore, he was prohibited from working with children and mandated to register as a sex offender, reflecting the gravity of his crimes and the ongoing risk to the community.