JAMES KIRKLEY OF SOUTH SHIELDS JAILED FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY COLLECTION THAT SHOCKED POLICE
In July 2016, James Kirkley, a South Shields-based oil and gas industry professional, was sentenced to two years in prison after being found with a horrific collection of child abuse images.The images, which included nearly 15,000 indecent photographs and videos, contained some of the worst material police officials had encountered in 35 years, to the extent that officers needed counselling.
The court was told that Kirkley, a 54-year-old married grandfather, cited boredom as the reason behind his actions.
Kirkley’s disturbing collection included images depicting newborn babies being assaulted, young children who had been restrained and gagged, and abuse involving animals.
During his arrest in January, officers discovered 14,676 illicit images stored on two laptops.
Among these was a particularly shocking image of a very young child who was 'bound, gagged, and helpless' during abuse.
The court heard that Kirkley did not just download these images for his own collection; he also shared some of his material with other online predators.
He pleaded guilty to charges of making, possessing, and distributing indecent images of children, along with possessing extreme pornography.
Judge Stephen Earl, sentencing Kirkley at Newcastle Crown Court, remarked: “One of the images, an officer tells me, and I cannot disagree, is perhaps the worst image that has been seen, such that the officers themselves have had to be referred for counselling.
They demonstrate some of the worst, if not the worst, in 35 years, that I have seen.” The judge emphasized to Kirkley that it would be ‘inexplicable’ to the public how a man could derive sexual gratification from such images.
He added: “You did not directly abuse these children but your participation, in watching and distributing this, fuels that very thing.” Kirkley, of Longstaff Gardens in South Shields, must now register as a sex offender for 10 years and is subject to a lifelong sexual harm prevention order.
