JOHN HART FROM MEOPHAM CAUGHT WITH CHILD PORNOGRAPHY PICTURES BUT ESCAPES JAIL

In a case that has shocked the community of Meopham, retired mathematics teacher John William Hart, aged 72, was found to be in possession of a significant number of indecent images depicting children being sexually abused. The incident came to light after police conducted a raid on his residence in December 2002, uncovering a disturbing collection of digital material on his computers.

During the investigation, authorities discovered that Hart owned eleven computers, three of which contained a total of 348 indecent images. These photographs included some of children as young as four years old, highlighting the severity of the material he possessed. In addition to these images, investigators found a substantial amount of encrypted content stored on CD-ROMs. Hart claimed that this encrypted data was merely adult pornography, asserting that he had forgotten the passwords to access it.

Hart explained to the police that his obsession with computers led him to download material from the internet indiscriminately, without particular intent or focus. However, the prosecution, led by Jonathan Higgs, argued that Hart had made no effort to cease his activity, as he continued to subscribe to a newsgroup called 'Underage Admirers,' which was known for sharing such illicit images. The police spent three months meticulously examining Hart’s digital devices, but their investigation was complicated by the use of various software tools designed to conceal file histories, including evidence eliminator programs and encryption tools.

Hart maintained that he believed the images he downloaded were of children dressed in pantomime costumes and claimed that he would delete the 'obnoxious' images as soon as he realized their true nature. During police interviews, he admitted to viewing some of the images and stated that he was encrypting the files to delete them later when he had more time. However, he later changed his account, claiming that he was trying to hide adult pornography from his wife, a former deputy headmistress.

Hart, who retired from teaching in 1984 following two nervous breakdowns, insisted that he never paid attention to the file titles, which included warnings like 'Warning this could cause you to yenc a lot.' He claimed, 'I don’t look for sinister things.' Despite his assertions, the jury took approximately an hour to find him guilty of 16 counts of making an indecent picture of a child.

In his defense, Mark Dacey, representing Hart, told the court that both Hart and his wife relied heavily on each other due to severe heart problems. Dacey emphasized their contributions throughout their lives and suggested that a custodial sentence would be excessively harsh, describing it as 'quite draconian.'

Ultimately, Recorder David Griffith-Jones sentenced Hart to 12 months in prison, suspended for two years. Hart was also ordered to register as a sex offender and pay costs amounting to £2,067. The case has raised serious concerns about the hidden dangers posed by individuals with such disturbing collections, even those who are otherwise retired and seemingly harmless.