ANDOVER MAN JONATHAN PEACOCK SENTENCED FOR VIEWING CHILD INDECENT IMAGES IN SHOCKING CASE

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Andover, Jonathan Peacock, a 29-year-old resident of Holland Drive, was handed a suspended prison sentence after police uncovered a significant collection of indecent images of children on his electronic devices. The investigation was initiated in September of the previous year when authorities received intelligence suggesting that someone at Peacock’s address was involved in viewing and possibly distributing illegal material involving minors.

Following this tip-off, law enforcement officers executed a search at Peacock’s residence, where they seized his computer tower, a hard drive, and a mobile phone. During the subsequent examination, officers discovered dozens of prohibited and indecent images stored across these devices. The images included categories A, B, and C, with category A being the most severe. Specifically, Peacock had admitted to creating 13 images classified as Category A, which are considered the most serious, along with 11 images in Category B and 73 in Category C, all produced between June 2009 and September 2017. Additionally, he possessed 64 extreme images during the same period.

Further investigations revealed that Peacock also had in his possession 12 prohibited images of children, which he had accumulated between January 2015 and September of the previous year. Initially, Peacock denied any involvement, claiming that his computer had been hacked when questioned by police. However, the evidence collected contradicted his claims, and it was found that the images were not downloaded but rather stored in his browser history. Police also uncovered that Peacock had conducted searches on various websites known for hosting such material, indicating an active interest in accessing illegal content. Some of these searches suggested that he was seeking to engage with minors, raising serious concerns about his intentions.

At Winchester Crown Court last Friday, the court heard the details of Peacock’s actions. Prosecutor Tom Wright explained that Peacock had not directly downloaded the images but had stored them in his browsing history, which was a key piece of evidence. The court was also informed that Peacock’s online activity included searches for websites where such material could be found, and some searches indicated a desire to interact with young people, which added to the gravity of the case.

Judge Jane Miller addressed the court, stating, “You began looking at adult pornography but that sometimes threw up children’s pornography, and you became interested in it. You hadn’t given any thought to the consequences to the victims.” The judge acknowledged that since the seizure of Peacock’s computer equipment, his life has undergone significant changes. She noted that he is currently supported by his partner and his employers, which may have influenced her decision.

In her sentencing remarks, Judge Miller imposed a nine-month prison sentence, suspended for two years. Peacock was also ordered to complete 15 days of rehabilitation, perform 100 hours of unpaid work, and was subject to a 10-year sexual harm prevention order. The court’s decision reflects the seriousness of the offences and the need to protect potential victims from future harm.