GORDON MCKENZIE THORNABY PERVERT WALKS FREE AFTER 18 MONTHS WAIT FOR COURT

In a case that has sparked outrage and criticism, 71-year-old Gordon McKenzie, a known offender from Thornaby, was allowed to walk free after a lengthy 18-month delay in bringing his case to court. The delay, which drew sharp rebukes from the judiciary, was attributed by Cleveland Police to the complex and specialized nature of the investigation, which required technical expertise and careful handling.

Judge Michael Taylor expressed his disapproval of the police's handling of the case, stating that he would have taken a markedly different approach had the proceedings been expedited. The judge emphasized that the prolonged wait was unacceptable and that it had a detrimental impact on justice. He remarked, "It’s regrettable that cases like this are not brought to the attention of the court as a matter of great urgency," and further criticized the police for their attitude towards Sexual Offences Prevention Orders (SOPOs).

McKenzie, who has a troubling criminal history with four prior convictions for creating and possessing indecent photographs of children, was subject to a court order banning him from possessing images of minors. Despite this, police officers who visited his residence in Thornaby, near Stockton, discovered numerous illicit images stored on his mobile phone and DVDs in his bedroom. The court was informed that McKenzie had recorded children's television programs, including shows like CBeebies and Supernanny, and manipulated stills from these programs to focus on the girls’ genital areas, creating a disturbing collection of images.

During his arrest, McKenzie admitted to police that he had a fetish for young girls’ underwear and that he was attracted to children aged between seven and ten. His actions and possession of such material led to his being charged with breaching a SOPO imposed in 2008, which was intended to prevent him from acquiring or viewing images of children. However, rather than facing a harsher sentence, McKenzie received an absolute discharge, a decision that has been met with criticism.

Prosecutor Sue Jacobs detailed the extent of McKenzie's collection and behavior, highlighting the disturbing nature of his activities. The court heard that McKenzie’s criminal record spans across the country, with convictions in 1991, 1995, 2002, and 2008 related to indecent images of children.

Graham Brown, representing McKenzie, argued that the images taken from television were not inherently indecent and claimed they were publicly accessible content. He suggested that McKenzie’s interest was rooted in his own curiosity and fascination, which he continued to pursue.

Police had initially searched McKenzie’s home in Millfield Close, Thornaby, in September 2011, but he was not interviewed until January 2012. A summons was issued in October 2012, and McKenzie made his first court appearance in November of that year. Detective Chief Inspector Jason Dickson, who leads the public protection unit, explained that investigations of this nature often require extensive time due to the technical and specialist skills involved. He acknowledged the delays but assured that efforts are made to minimize them, emphasizing that McKenzie remained under supervision and was subject to a SOPO during the investigation.

Ultimately, the case has highlighted concerns over the handling and urgency of investigations involving child exploitation and indecent images, with critics questioning whether justice has been fully served in this instance.