JONATHAN HIPKISS CONVICTED IN SOUTHWELL FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY OFFENSES
| Red Rose Database
Southwell Sexual Abuser
In May 2009, a significant case unfolded involving Jonathan Hipkiss, a 42-year-old former resident of Southwell, who became the first individual in Nottinghamshire and only the third in the entire United Kingdom to be convicted of failing to disclose an encrypted key to restricted information related to child pornography.
Authorities, equipped with advanced technological tools, dedicated an entire year to unlocking a complex code that ultimately led to the capture of a computer paedophile. The case centered around Hipkiss's refusal to provide the decryption key for a program that stored a disturbing collection of images and videos depicting child abuse. Some of these files were classified as grade 5, indicating the most severe and heinous category of child exploitation material.
After persistent efforts, a team of specialists succeeded in decrypting the data 12 months later, revealing the extent of Hipkiss's illicit activities. During the investigation, it was uncovered that Hipkiss had used a recently purchased computer, intended for his son, to download additional indecent images, further complicating the case.
At Nottingham Crown Court, Hipkiss admitted to possessing 15 counts of making indecent photographs and three counts of possessing such images. The court heard that on one of his computers, there were 1,286 images categorized at level one, which is considered the least serious. Additionally, there were 74 images at level two, 30 at level three, 39 at level four, and six at level five, the most severe category.
Judge Michael Stokes, QC, sentenced Hipkiss to a year in prison, condemning his manipulative behavior and highlighting his professional background as a web engineer. The judge remarked, “You have demonstrated a level of manipulation born out of your profession as a web engineer. You were seen by police in March last year. It wasn’t until March this year you admitted you were doing that which has now been demonstrated.”
During the sentencing, the judge described the images as “absolutely disgusting” and pointed out that Hipkiss had lied to his wife of 13 years about his innocence. When confronted with the expert analysis, Hipkiss confessed to his wife, leading her to leave him. Currently residing on Birchfield Road in Redditch, Hipkiss’s actions have had profound personal consequences.
Defense lawyer Julie Warburton argued that it took Hipkiss a year to admit his guilt, suggesting that his reluctance stemmed from fears that the truth would destroy his family. She emphasized the emotional toll and the potential disintegration of his household if he were to disclose his crimes.
The charge of failing to disclose an encrypted key to restricted information was introduced in October 2007, reflecting the evolving legal landscape to combat online child exploitation.
Following the sentencing, Detective Sergeant Harry Parsonage of Nottinghamshire Police’s e-Crime Unit described the investigation as one of the most complex he had overseen in his decade of service. He stated, “This is one of the most complicated examinations of computer files that I have seen in the ten years that I have been in charge of the unit. It required an in-depth, detailed look into a large number of items over several months. Hipkiss was put into a position where he had no choice than to admit what he had done, after our officers had been able to piece together many fragments of evidence to show he had intentionally downloaded and saved these files.”
Detective Inspector Ian Winton from the Sexual Exploitation Investigation Unit added, “This case shows that no matter what lengths people think they can take to hide child abuse images, we will find them.”
Ruth Allen, head of intelligence at the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (Ceop), emphasized that technological advancements are increasingly making it impossible for offenders to evade justice, stating, “Any individual who believes they can evade justice will no longer be able to hide behind the technology they use.”
As part of his sentence, Hipkiss was disqualified from working with children and is required to register as a sex offender for the next ten years, underscoring the severity of his crimes and the ongoing efforts to protect vulnerable children from exploitation.
Authorities, equipped with advanced technological tools, dedicated an entire year to unlocking a complex code that ultimately led to the capture of a computer paedophile. The case centered around Hipkiss's refusal to provide the decryption key for a program that stored a disturbing collection of images and videos depicting child abuse. Some of these files were classified as grade 5, indicating the most severe and heinous category of child exploitation material.
After persistent efforts, a team of specialists succeeded in decrypting the data 12 months later, revealing the extent of Hipkiss's illicit activities. During the investigation, it was uncovered that Hipkiss had used a recently purchased computer, intended for his son, to download additional indecent images, further complicating the case.
At Nottingham Crown Court, Hipkiss admitted to possessing 15 counts of making indecent photographs and three counts of possessing such images. The court heard that on one of his computers, there were 1,286 images categorized at level one, which is considered the least serious. Additionally, there were 74 images at level two, 30 at level three, 39 at level four, and six at level five, the most severe category.
Judge Michael Stokes, QC, sentenced Hipkiss to a year in prison, condemning his manipulative behavior and highlighting his professional background as a web engineer. The judge remarked, “You have demonstrated a level of manipulation born out of your profession as a web engineer. You were seen by police in March last year. It wasn’t until March this year you admitted you were doing that which has now been demonstrated.”
During the sentencing, the judge described the images as “absolutely disgusting” and pointed out that Hipkiss had lied to his wife of 13 years about his innocence. When confronted with the expert analysis, Hipkiss confessed to his wife, leading her to leave him. Currently residing on Birchfield Road in Redditch, Hipkiss’s actions have had profound personal consequences.
Defense lawyer Julie Warburton argued that it took Hipkiss a year to admit his guilt, suggesting that his reluctance stemmed from fears that the truth would destroy his family. She emphasized the emotional toll and the potential disintegration of his household if he were to disclose his crimes.
The charge of failing to disclose an encrypted key to restricted information was introduced in October 2007, reflecting the evolving legal landscape to combat online child exploitation.
Following the sentencing, Detective Sergeant Harry Parsonage of Nottinghamshire Police’s e-Crime Unit described the investigation as one of the most complex he had overseen in his decade of service. He stated, “This is one of the most complicated examinations of computer files that I have seen in the ten years that I have been in charge of the unit. It required an in-depth, detailed look into a large number of items over several months. Hipkiss was put into a position where he had no choice than to admit what he had done, after our officers had been able to piece together many fragments of evidence to show he had intentionally downloaded and saved these files.”
Detective Inspector Ian Winton from the Sexual Exploitation Investigation Unit added, “This case shows that no matter what lengths people think they can take to hide child abuse images, we will find them.”
Ruth Allen, head of intelligence at the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (Ceop), emphasized that technological advancements are increasingly making it impossible for offenders to evade justice, stating, “Any individual who believes they can evade justice will no longer be able to hide behind the technology they use.”
As part of his sentence, Hipkiss was disqualified from working with children and is required to register as a sex offender for the next ten years, underscoring the severity of his crimes and the ongoing efforts to protect vulnerable children from exploitation.