JAMES DORRINGTON FROM WARD EXPOSED IN CHILD PORNOGRAPHY SCANDAL AT EXETER UNIVERSITY

In March 2001, a serious criminal case emerged involving James Dorrington, a student at Exeter University, who was accused of possessing and downloading child pornography. The incident took place in Exeter, a city known for its historic university, and has raised significant concerns about internet safety and the protection of minors.

James Dorrington, aged 22 and residing in Stoke Abbott, was found to have engaged in the illegal activity within his university accommodation on the Exeter campus. The authorities revealed that he had downloaded a total of 213 images, which included both adult pornography and illegal child abuse material. These images were stored on his personal computer, located in his private room, and were discovered after university wardens were tipped off about suspicious content.

According to reports, the wardens found printed copies of some of the images stored in a box under Dorrington’s bed. This discovery prompted a police investigation, which confirmed the possession of the illicit images. The police seized the material and proceeded with formal charges against Dorrington, who admitted to making an indecent pseudo-photograph of a child. He also requested that two additional charges be considered during the court proceedings.

During the hearing at Exeter magistrates' court, the prosecution, led by Mike Ashby, detailed the extent of Dorrington’s activities. Ashby explained that the defendant had accessed the internet on his home computer in Dorset on numerous occasions, visiting various websites and discussion forums where he downloaded files, including the illegal images. Dorrington reportedly described the images as “weird and interesting,” and although he denied actively seeking child pornography, he acknowledged that some images appeared “a bit young” and that the images were genuine, not faked. He expressed remorse, stating, “I am not proud of it.”

Defense attorney Stephen Nunn argued that Dorrington’s actions did not generate any commercial profit and that he was not involved in distributing the images or collaborating with others. Nunn emphasized that the incident was isolated, with only five of the 213 images being related to child pornography, and highlighted that Dorrington had not engaged in any illegal activity beyond possession.

Despite the defense’s arguments, the magistrates decided that Dorrington’s future at Exeter University was at risk, with the possibility of expulsion looming. Ultimately, they sentenced him to a one-year conditional discharge and mandated that he register as a sex offender for the next five years. Following the case, Detective Constable Peter Turner issued a warning to the public, stressing that such illegal pornography is readily accessible on the internet. He particularly urged parents to monitor their children’s online activities carefully to prevent exposure to harmful material and to safeguard minors from exploitation and abuse.