JOHN “DEREK” VOKES FROM CARRICKFERGUS JAILED FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY OFFENSES

In September 2008, a disturbing case emerged involving John “Derek” Vokes, a man from Carrickfergus, Co Antrim, who was convicted of possessing and distributing child pornography. Vokes, aged 42, was identified as a self-styled internet vigilante who previously claimed to assist law enforcement by catching paedophiles online. However, his own actions led to his arrest and subsequent imprisonment.

Vokes was sentenced to two years in prison at Woodlawn Court in Carrickfergus. The presiding judge, Piers Grant, made it clear that Vokes’s claims of acting for the public good did not justify his criminal conduct. The court heard that Vokes had attempted to portray himself as a protector of children and a supporter of law and order, a stance he used to shield himself from scrutiny and potential prosecution. Judge Grant rejected this narrative, emphasizing that Vokes’s activities were driven by personal sexual gratification rather than any altruistic motive.

During the sentencing, Judge Grant noted that Vokes had used 14 different internet usernames to access and download indecent images. The court found that he had not only viewed these images for his own perverted interests but also distributed them to others with similar depraved inclinations. The judge pointed out that such distribution fuels the demand for child pornography and perpetuates the exploitation of children online.

While Vokes was not the original source of the images, the court stressed that his moral responsibility remained significant. Accessing and sharing such material was considered a serious offense that contributed to the ongoing harm inflicted upon victims. The prosecution’s lawyer, Fiona O’Kane, revealed that in 2001, Vokes had approached police to report a man involved in child internet pornography, which initially helped authorities in their investigations. However, this did not prevent Vokes from later engaging in similar illegal activities himself.

In April 2006, police seized Vokes’s computer and software, uncovering a total of 230 indecent images. Of these, 132 images were distributed by Vokes to others with similar interests. Vokes later claimed that his actions were motivated by a desire to serve the public good, a justification the court found unconvincing. The judge highlighted that such images are inherently harmful and that his involvement in their dissemination was morally reprehensible.

Vokes’s defense lawyer, Frank O’Dohaghue, acknowledged the repulsive nature of the images but pointed out that only 46 of them fell into the more serious category four, as classified by law. The lawyer also emphasized that Vokes was a man facing significant personal problems and would require substantial support upon release to prevent re-offending.

Vokes pleaded guilty to eight charges of making indecent images of a child and eight charges of distributing such images. The court sentenced him to two years in prison but allowed for an 18-month probation period following his release, during which he would be monitored and supported to address his issues.