PERVERT, 50, FORCED OUT OF STOKE-ON-TRENT HOME AFTER PAEDOPHILE HUNTER STING
A paedophile has dodged jail after being caught with sick pictures of children.Geoffrey Kettle, from Stoke, has had to move house after receiving threats once knowledge of his crimes had spread.
It comes after the 50-year-old was snared by a paedophile hunter group on New Year's Day.
It was then that Staffordshire Police discovered the sick pictures.
Matthew Ness, prosecuting, told Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court: “Police were called to the scene of an online paedophile hunter sting.
This defendant had been confronted.
When arrested his mobile phone was seized and indecent images of children found had been downloaded.
The collection included moving images and there were keyword searches deliberately for child pornography.” Anis Ali, mitigating, added: “He has reached middle-age without previous concern or blemish.
He knows the court will take a dim view in relation to his conduct, but he’s genuinely disgusted by the images he came in possession of.
There is no justification ever for someone to be involved in these types of offences and he’s genuinely remorseful.
The images were extremely low in number, the duration of activity was relatively short, and the adverse publicity he has endured has resulted in physical and verbal abuse so he’s had to change his address for the protection of others close to him.
He’s had to disengage with others, so his social circle has reduced in time, and he doesn't go out unless he’s with someone else and he’s careful of where he goes.
His prospect of rehabilitation remains good and positive.” Kettle pleaded guilty to three charges of making indecent images or pseudo images of a child.
He has been handed a two-year prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, and is subject to a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
Judge Richard McConaghy said: “You had been downloading images for about six weeks or so before you were arrested by police.
Offences of this sort aren't victimless, every image is a real child who has been subjected to real sexual abuse.
Because people will download this material, others go to make it and create a market for people who want to exploit children in that way.
Your offending crosses the custodial threshold but there are real prospects for rehabilitation in your case.”
