JOHN HOAR'S SHOCKING CRIMES IN MALTON AND YORK REVEALED

In February 2017, John Hoar, a man with a disturbing history of sexual offenses and illegal image possession, was sentenced to a total of three years and eight months in prison for a series of heinous crimes involving child abuse and distribution of indecent images. The case, which unfolded in Malton and York, uncovered a disturbing pattern of behavior that spanned several years and involved multiple illegal activities.

Prosecutor Rob Galley detailed that authorities found on two computers and USB sticks at Hoar’s residence explicit images depicting children as young as five, some of whom appeared to be in pain or distress. These images were part of a larger collection of illegal material, totaling 1,494 images and videos, including 14 of the most severe abuse. The images were distributed by Hoar, who had shared 143 pictures with others, some of the most extreme in nature. His actions demonstrated a blatant disregard for the law and the safety of children.

Hoar, aged 69 and residing in Whitwell-on-the-Hill at the time, but formerly of Victoria Road, Malton, admitted to multiple charges. These included two counts of distributing indecent images, three counts of possessing such images, one count of breaching a sexual offences prevention order by installing software designed to erase evidence of his crimes, one count of possessing extreme pornography, and one count of possessing prohibited images of children. His criminal activities extended beyond mere possession; he actively engaged in sharing these images via online chat platforms such as Yahoo Messenger and Skype, often boasting about his own past abuse of children to those he communicated with.

During his court appearance, Hoar claimed that some of his statements might have been bravado, but the prosecutor emphasized that this was a concerning aspect of his behavior. He also revealed that Hoar had a prior conviction from September 2011, when he received a 12-month prison sentence suspended for two years after being found guilty of 29 offenses related to illegal images. At that time, he was also ordered to undergo a sex offender treatment program and was placed under a sexual offences prevention order.

In the current case, Hoar’s actions were described as particularly troubling. He had used online chat services to send illegal images, including some of the most explicit and extreme types, and openly claimed to have sexually abused children himself. Despite this, Hoar insisted he had never personally abused children and expressed remorse for his actions, citing the four months he spent in remand as a period of significant hardship. He stated his intention to avoid returning to prison upon his release.

In addition to his online activities, Hoar’s criminal record also included an incident in August of the previous year, when a female client at a York drug rehabilitation center discovered inappropriate videos on his work computer. The video titled “Little Miss T” was found after she accessed his desktop. Hoar initially suggested that the matter should not be reported, claiming that the office manager had enough on her plate. However, the incident was reported, leading police to search his residence on Victoria Road. During the search, officers uncovered hundreds of other illegal images, including computer-generated material and drawings depicting child pornography and adult pornography.

Hoar’s court proceedings in York culminated in a sentence of nine months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years. He was also banned from accessing any computer or the internet for two years and was placed under a Sexual Offenders Prevention Order, which restricts his contact with children indefinitely. Furthermore, he was placed under supervision for two years, required to participate in a sex offender treatment program, and registered on the Sex Offender Register for ten years. Judge Colin Burn emphasized that even after the two-year computer ban, Hoar’s access to technology would remain controlled through monitoring software, reflecting the seriousness of his offenses.

The court also noted that Hoar’s interest in nudist activities was linked to his possession of approximately 1,000 images of naked children, alongside hundreds of other images and videos of a pornographic nature, some classified as “extreme pornography.” Ruth Cranidge, representing Hoar, argued that immediate custody would deprive him of the opportunity for treatment, which he acknowledged he needed. She highlighted that a probation officer had classified Hoar as being at high risk of re-offending, underscoring the importance of rehabilitation.

Judge Burn concluded by reminding Hoar of his responsibilities, given his background and the nature of his crimes. He stated that Hoar, of all people, should have been aware of the vulnerability of children and warned that individuals like him, who download such images for personal gratification, contribute to a dangerous environment where actual abuse can occur. The case serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing threat posed by individuals with a history of sexual offenses and the importance of vigilant law enforcement in protecting children from exploitation.