JAMES MINTON FROM OAKRIDGE SENTENCED FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY OFFENSES IN BASINGSTOKE
| Red Rose Database
Oakridge Sexual Abuser
In December 2001, James Minton, a 26-year-old resident of Coleman Close in Oakridge, faced serious legal consequences after being convicted of possessing indecent images of children. The case was heard before magistrates in Basingstoke, where Minton pleaded guilty to multiple charges related to child pornography, including possession of two sets of indecent photographs and four counts of creating such images.
The investigation that led to Minton's arrest began when police officers conducted a search of his residence on February 23. The officers were acting on suspicions related to drug offenses and stolen property. During the search, they seized Minton's computer along with 73 discs. A subsequent examination of these digital storage devices revealed disturbing evidence: 18 separate images of a paedophilic nature had been downloaded from the internet onto one of the discs.
Following his arrest on November 1, Minton was interviewed by police. During the interview, prosecutor Ewa Hancock stated that Minton recognized some of the images but claimed he was unaware of how they had come to be on his computer. He also denied downloading the images onto a diskette, asserting that he did not intentionally save such material.
In his defense, solicitor Sarah Brett argued that simply browsing the internet and inadvertently coming across indecent photographs could constitute possession under the law. She explained to the magistrates that Minton had pleaded guilty because the evidence showed he had downloaded images onto a disc, which satisfied the legal criteria for possession and creation of indecent images. Mrs. Brett emphasized that there was no evidence to suggest Minton had shared these images with others or had any prior history involving child pornography or indecency. She highlighted that the police investigation was triggered by an unrelated matter, and there was no indication that Minton had attempted to interfere with children.
Mrs. Brett also provided context regarding Minton's personal history, revealing that he had been abused as a child himself. She stressed that Minton was strongly opposed to child pornography and that his possession of the images was likely the result of being under the influence of drugs and alcohol while using his computer. She suggested that, while browsing the internet, such images could have appeared on his screen without his intention, and he had intended to delete them but failed to do so, resulting in their being saved onto a disc.
At the hearing, the court was informed that Minton was currently unemployed, receiving job seekers allowance, and actively working to address his substance abuse issues, including drug dependency and alcohol misuse. He was also undertaking steps to confront the trauma from his own childhood abuse.
Magistrates responded to the case by imposing a community punishment and rehabilitation order for a period of one year. As part of this order, Minton was required to complete 100 hours of voluntary work. Additionally, he was placed on the sex offenders register for five years and ordered to pay costs amounting to £118. The court's decision reflected a combination of punitive measures and efforts to facilitate Minton's rehabilitation and reintegration into society.
The investigation that led to Minton's arrest began when police officers conducted a search of his residence on February 23. The officers were acting on suspicions related to drug offenses and stolen property. During the search, they seized Minton's computer along with 73 discs. A subsequent examination of these digital storage devices revealed disturbing evidence: 18 separate images of a paedophilic nature had been downloaded from the internet onto one of the discs.
Following his arrest on November 1, Minton was interviewed by police. During the interview, prosecutor Ewa Hancock stated that Minton recognized some of the images but claimed he was unaware of how they had come to be on his computer. He also denied downloading the images onto a diskette, asserting that he did not intentionally save such material.
In his defense, solicitor Sarah Brett argued that simply browsing the internet and inadvertently coming across indecent photographs could constitute possession under the law. She explained to the magistrates that Minton had pleaded guilty because the evidence showed he had downloaded images onto a disc, which satisfied the legal criteria for possession and creation of indecent images. Mrs. Brett emphasized that there was no evidence to suggest Minton had shared these images with others or had any prior history involving child pornography or indecency. She highlighted that the police investigation was triggered by an unrelated matter, and there was no indication that Minton had attempted to interfere with children.
Mrs. Brett also provided context regarding Minton's personal history, revealing that he had been abused as a child himself. She stressed that Minton was strongly opposed to child pornography and that his possession of the images was likely the result of being under the influence of drugs and alcohol while using his computer. She suggested that, while browsing the internet, such images could have appeared on his screen without his intention, and he had intended to delete them but failed to do so, resulting in their being saved onto a disc.
At the hearing, the court was informed that Minton was currently unemployed, receiving job seekers allowance, and actively working to address his substance abuse issues, including drug dependency and alcohol misuse. He was also undertaking steps to confront the trauma from his own childhood abuse.
Magistrates responded to the case by imposing a community punishment and rehabilitation order for a period of one year. As part of this order, Minton was required to complete 100 hours of voluntary work. Additionally, he was placed on the sex offenders register for five years and ordered to pay costs amounting to £118. The court's decision reflected a combination of punitive measures and efforts to facilitate Minton's rehabilitation and reintegration into society.