IAN BUCKINGHAM OF BOURNEMOUTH JAILED FOR POSSESSING CHILD ABUSE IMAGES
The owner of a toy company has been sentenced to prison after police found him in possession of disturbing images depicting infants being tortured.Bournemouth Crown Court was told that Ian Buckingham had accumulated over 1,100 child abuse images classified as the most severe, with more than 600 of these being videos, all recovered from his home on Roumelia Lane, Boscombe, in December 2017.
A police forensic officer, with approximately 17 years of experience, described the images as "the worst he has ever seen in his career," according to prosecutor David Reid.
Buckingham, aged 40, expressed remorse for his actions, revealing that he began viewing such images following the death of his mother in 2016, while self-medicating with drugs.
Mr.
Reid explained that the sample images showed very young children; one specific case involved an infant no older than 12 months.
He further stated that "in excess of 100" of the images, classified as category A, depicted young children, often little more than babies, being tortured and subjected to pain.
Overall, Buckingham was found to possess 1,146 images and videos in category A, 373 in category B, 3,175 in category C, as well as 95 extreme pornographic images involving bestiality.
He admitted to 19 charges of possessing indecent images and extreme pornography.
Buckingham is listed as the director of the toy company Fidget Brothers, which is registered at his former flat in Boscombe.
The court heard that he had "given that flat up" as it was "no longer suitable" and currently has no fixed address.
In his defense, Kevin Hill explained, "Mr Buckingham says that he hates himself for what he did.
He says he wants to get well." The court was also informed that Buckingham has been diagnosed with "mental illness" and suffers from severe migraines, experiencing "considerable anxiety" since the offences and continuing to do so while in prison.
Mr.
Hill added that Buckingham "wants a better life for himself," and has taken on three jobs while incarcerated to "make the very best of the time he has." He also revealed that Buckingham plans to pursue an art degree after his release.
Judge Peter Crabtree OBE sentenced Buckingham to 20 months in prison.
The judge emphasized that Buckingham’s actions have contributed to "a vile industry" that causes lifelong harm to victims, including children and women forced into abuse, often involving animals.
Additionally, Buckingham was ordered to be subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and must register as a sex offender for 10 years.
