GRAHAM TREWHALLA FROM GOSPORT AVOIDS JAIL DESPITE CHILD PORNOGRAPHY CHARGES
A former Royal Navy commander, Graham Trewhalla from Gosport, Hampshire, who was once honored by the Queen, has escaped prison after being caught on camera by paedophile hunters.The vigilantes, posing as a 14-year-old boy, organized an encounter that led to Trewhalla's arrest.
The 62-year-old officer later attributed his actions to feelings of loneliness, court heard.
According to reports, Trewhalla arranged to meet 'George', believing he was engaging with a teenage boy via the dating app Grindr.
When he arrived at the meeting, he was instead greeted by a man from the online paedophile hunting group Trap, which boasts over 241,000 Facebook likes.
Hampshire Police were alerted by the group, leading to his arrest on October 28, 2017, shortly after his retirement from the Navy.
During court proceedings at Portsmouth Crown Court, it was revealed that Trewhalla, a father of three who used his own photos on his Grindr profile, spent two days messaging someone he believed to be a 14-year-old.
Prosecutor Nicholas Hall described how Trewhalla seemed to comment about possibly engaging in sex later, and the person posing as George emphasized that they were only 14, to which Trewhalla replied that he was okay with that.
These exchanges lasted over two days.
Police found nearly 1,100 indecent images of children on Trewhalla's computer, including 329 categorized as the most severe.
Analysis indicated that searches for these images dated back to 2015.
Trewhalla pleaded guilty to attempting to facilitate a child sex offence, attempting sexual communication with a child, and three counts of making indecent images.
In a video recorded by the vigilantes and posted on Trap’s social media, Trewhalla is seen in a hat and grey Rab coat, visibly shocked as he is confronted by a man who states, 'You've thrown your life away.' Trewhalla responds nervously, saying, 'I don't do anything outside' and 'I wasn't going to do anything.' When speaking to probation officers later, Trewhalla acknowledged his conduct was 'absolutely wrong' and 'unbelievably irresponsible,' expressing remorse.
'When I look at what I've done now it horrifies me — I'm incredibly remorseful,' he said.
Trewhalla had previously been listed on the Queen's New Year's Honours List in 2009 for his service to the Royal Navy.
During the hearing, mitigation lawyer Phillip Allman noted that Trewhalla’s three children continued to support him.
He explained that Trewhalla’s actions stemmed from loneliness following a separation from his wife 15 years earlier, describing the incident as 'the most remarkable stain on his character' that he would carry for the rest of his life.
Sentencing, Recorder Simon Levene sentenced Trewhalla to 17 months in jail, suspended for two years, reasoning that immediate imprisonment would not aid his rehabilitation.
The judge stated, 'You are deeply ashamed and very, very embarrassed — not just at being caught but at what you realize you've been up to over the last few years.' He emphasized that the suspension was appropriate because Trewhalla fell into a category of offenders who could be helped and that imprisonment risked exposing him to worse influences within prison, potentially worsening his condition.
