April 2014 Hackney lawyer who discussed child abuse in paedophile chat rooms walks free from court A shamed lawyer from Hackney who claims work stress caused him to download scores of sickening child abuse images has walked free from court Hugh Jackson, 31, of Victoria Park Road stored 230 indecent pictures of children as young as two on work and home computers. He also trawled through paedophile chat rooms on his work computer where he discussed child abuse with other like-minded individuals. The married solicitor and churchgoer claims anxiety from his job at a leading London housing and community care law firm triggered his child porn addiction. Jackson, who admitted nine counts of making indecent photographs of a child and a single count of possessing indecent images, appeared at Southwark Crown Court for his sentencing. Anthony Edwards, defending, said Jackson has been looking at child pornography for over five years as an “escape” from the “highly stressful environment” at his workplace. But Judge Michael Gledhill QC interrupted and said: “How can stress from a job, or anywhere else, lead you to paedophile information exchange websites and looking at this filth?” He added: “I find it almost impossible to understand how an extremely intelligent 31-year-old such as yourself, qualified as a barrister, working as a solicitor, with a wife, could put your career and your family in jeopardy because of your appetite for looking at these indecent images of children. Jackson, who has admitted having a sexual interest in young girls, has since quit his job and is now relying on income support. His wife, a researcher at University College London, watched on from the public gallery as he was handed a 12-month prison sentence suspended for a year and a 60-day supervision order. April 2014 Hackney solicitor was ‘addicted’ to child abuse images A Hackney solicitor addicted to child abuse images, who was caught with over 200 images including graphic sexual abuse, is facing jail. Hugh Jackson of Victoria Park Road, South Hackney, appeared in the dock at Westminster Magistrates Court on Tuesday, supported by his wife – a researcher at University College London – watched on from the public gallery. The 31-year-old former solicitor kept the stash of images – one of which portrayed penetrative sex – on his home and work computers, which were seized by police last October. His defence barrister Mr Edwards, said: “Hugh Jackson started looking at pornography as a teenager, it wasn’t criminal at that point, but five years ago he turned to the forms seen here. “He can’t point to a specific trigger but perhaps it starts at work, reacting to the stress. “It became an addiction and that is how it’s been over the recent past.” Mr Jackson has now resigned from what Mr Edwards described as an “extraordinarily demanding job” at a leading London housing and community care law firm, and is now claiming job seekers’ allowance (JSA). Mr Edwards added: “From having a reasonable salary he’s resorted to JSA, things aren’t easy for him. “What stands out is the extraordinary openness to his family and friends, they are fully aware and fully supportive of him in the situation which has come about” Mr Edwards argued that as his client had admitted to the crime from the outset, had no previous convictions, had attended a rehabilitative course and had co-operated fully with police – having disclosed his computer passwords, that he should escape a jail term with a suspended sentence. However after deliberation, chairman of the bench, John Newgas, said they regarded their 12-month sentencing powers “insufficient” because of the “nature and seriousness” of the offences, and referred the case to Southwark Crown Court for sentencing. Until that time, bail conditions dictate Jackson must report daily to Stoke Newington police station and avoid unsupervised contact with children under 16. Jackson pleaded guilty to nine counts of making indecent photographs of a child and a single count of possessing indecent images of a child at Westminster Magistrates Court last month. March 2014 Solicitor from Hackney admits making indecent images of children Hugh Jackson, 31, confessed to nine counts of making indecent images of children as well as one count of possession of prohibited images of children in an appearance at Westminster Magistrates’ Court today. The guilty plea comes after police searched his home in Victoria Park Road, Hackney, in October last year, when they seized computers which were later examined. He was arrested on January 21 on suspicion of possession of indecent images of children. Jackson will be sentenced at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on April 1.