GORDON ARCHER FROM DITTON NEAR MAIDSTONE JAILED FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY OFFENSES

In a case that has shocked the local community of Maidstone and the surrounding areas, Gordon Archer, a resident of Primrose Drive in Ditton, was sentenced to two years in prison after being found guilty of possessing and downloading a significant amount of child pornography. The court proceedings revealed disturbing details about Archer’s activities, which spanned several years and involved the exploitation of innocent children.

According to Maidstone Crown Court, Archer, who was employed as a manager at a photographic shop, had accumulated a total of 4,671 still images and 2,408 video clips depicting child abuse since 1999. Among these images were photographs of very young children, including a two-year-old girl and a five-year-old, alongside images of children aged between eight and fourteen. Prosecutors described some of the material as depicting children being subjected to violence and torture, highlighting the severity of the offense.

The investigation was initiated after police raided Archer’s residence and seized his computer. Prior to the examination of his device, Archer voluntarily confessed to possessing the illicit images, acknowledging that they would be uncovered during the forensic analysis. The police also discovered numerous photographs of women and children in various states of undress, which Archer had stolen from his previous employment at Jessops and One Hour Photo stores. These images, while not classified as obscene, were scanned into his computer for sexual gratification, according to the prosecution.

Further investigation revealed that Archer was subscribed to a file-sharing system on the internet, which facilitated his access to child pornography. The case also involved a colleague whose credit card Archer used to access a child porn site. This colleague was arrested publicly in front of his girlfriend, detained for a day, and subjected to a thorough search of his home and computer. The colleague’s computer was analyzed, and his residence was searched as part of the investigation.

During the court hearing, Archer admitted to 14 charges of making indecent photographs of children. He also asked for other charges related to theft and obtaining services by deception to be taken into account. His defense attorney, Satman Bains, described the misuse of the colleague’s credit card as an unfortunate mistake. However, Judge Andrew Patience, QC, emphasized the gravity of the offense, stating that the incident caused significant humiliation and distress to the innocent colleague, whose faith in justice was deeply shaken.

In a poignant revelation, it was disclosed that Archer, overwhelmed by guilt and distress, attempted to take his own life the day after his arrest. He ingested 50 painkillers and attempted to gas himself in a car, but a passer-by intervened, and Archer was taken to hospital. He remains under psychiatric care, reflecting the profound mental toll of his actions.

Judge Patience delivered a stern sentence, condemning Archer’s use of computers to access such horrific images. The judge underscored the wickedness of the activity, noting that Archer’s actions contributed to fueling a market for child abuse images, which in turn perpetuates the abuse of children worldwide. The court imposed an extended license period of two years, during which Archer will be monitored closely. Additionally, he will be on the sex offenders’ register for ten years and is prohibited from working with children, accessing computers, or engaging in employment involving the processing of photographs. The ruling aims to serve both as punishment and a deterrent to others who might consider similar offenses.