JAIL FOR WARRINGTON PAEDOPHILE JAMES CLEMSNS OVER CHILD PORNOGRAPHY

In May 1999, a Warrington man was sentenced to four months in prison after being convicted of possessing child pornography. James Clemens, 25, a former BNFL employee residing on Winwick Road opposite a children's playground, was found with nearly 700 indecent images of young boys on his computer. The police investigation into a child porn ring uncovered his storage devices, including 48 floppy disks, which contained the illicit material.

Clemens admitted to possessing 684 images depicting pre-pubescent males, and a selection of these photographs was shown to the court. Prosecutor Joanne Hamlin stated that Clemens, upon police questioning, acknowledged that he possessed most of the images but claimed he was looking after some for a friend.

His lawyer, Gary Heaven, addressed the magistrates, emphasizing the difficulty in preventing such offences. He remarked, "The fact is that even an eight-year-old with the capacity to use a computer can download this stuff – and there is nothing that we can do which will change that." Mr. Heaven also noted that Clemens had no direct involvement with the child porn group he was in contact with via email and the internet, but he expressed that Clemens "violently disapproved" of their activities.

Clemens, who has a previous conviction for indecent assault on a minor, pleaded guilty and was ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for seven years. The court also sentenced him to four months' imprisonment.

In addition, the court was told that Clemens would likely lose his job, as he was dismissed from his BNFL position following his arrest, and risk losing his home if he went into custody.

Neighbours of Clemens, such as resident Peter Deeley, described him as a quiet individual, saying, "He was a very quiet lad, I have seen him coming in and out of his house but really he kept himself to himself." Despite his legal troubles, residents remained unaware of his involvement in such activities.