JONATHAN WARD FROM HOVE EXPOSED AS PAEDOPHILE INVOLVED IN CHILD ABUSE IMAGES AND TROPHY COLLECTION

In a disturbing case that has shocked the local community, Jonathan Ward, a child protection officer residing in Hove, was found to have engaged in heinous acts involving the exploitation and abuse of children. The incident came to light after police conducted a search of his residence following a credible tip-off in December of 2017.

During the raid, authorities uncovered a disturbing collection of over 100 indecent images depicting children being sexually abused. These images were stored on Ward’s personal computer, revealing a disturbing pattern of criminal behavior. In addition to the illicit images, police discovered a collection of adult pornography DVDs, further highlighting the extent of Ward’s involvement in illegal activities.

Adding to the disturbing nature of the case, investigators found a bag of girls’ knickers at Ward’s home, which he kept as a sordid trophy, indicating a deeply troubling obsession. The 46-year-old social worker had previously worked for two different local authorities—Surrey County Council and Brighton and Hove City Council—where he was employed in specialized child protection units. His employment history included a tenure at Brighton and Hove City Council from 1999 until 2015.

Following the discovery, Ward was suspended from his position and subsequently dismissed from his role. Despite the severity of his actions, he was not sentenced to prison but faced criminal charges related to the possession and creation of indecent images of children. He pleaded guilty to six counts of making indecent images of children, which led to a sentence of seven months in jail, suspended for two years. Additionally, he was ordered to complete 120 hours of community service and was subjected to a five-year ban on contact with minors and using the internet.

At his trial at Hove Trial Centre, Judge Paul Tain addressed Ward directly, stating, “People who support the degradation of children through downloading images participate in the crime and participate in the abuse.” The judge’s comments underscored the gravity of Ward’s offenses and the societal need to condemn such behavior.

In response to the case, Surrey County Council issued a statement confirming that Ward was suspended immediately once the allegations surfaced and was later dismissed. The council emphasized that the criminal acts were entirely unrelated to his professional duties. Similarly, Brighton and Hove City Council, where Ward had previously worked, expressed their shock and sadness over the incident but clarified that the offenses did not involve his employment with them, reaffirming their commitment to child safety and the importance of maintaining public trust.