KAI HO FAN CAUGHT IN BRIGHTON CHILD PORN SCANDAL

In December 2006, a trainee teacher named Kai Ho Fan from Brighton was sentenced to three and a half years in prison after a disturbing discovery made by a 14-year-old student at his secondary school led to the uncovering of a significant child pornography operation. The incident began when the young pupil found a computer memory stick at his school, where Fan was employed as an assistant maths teacher. Out of curiosity, the boy took the device home and connected it to his laptop, only to stumble upon horrifying content.

He first encountered a video depicting an eight-year-old girl being indecently assaulted by an unidentified man. Shocked and disturbed, the boy continued exploring the contents of the memory stick and discovered a folder labeled 'PSP Cheats,' which he initially believed to contain gaming-related files. However, upon opening a video file, he recognized the male involved as his teacher, Kai Ho Fan. Recognizing the gravity of what he was viewing, the boy immediately informed his mother, prompting her to contact the police.

Prosecutor Annabel Maxwell-Scott detailed the extent of Fan’s illegal collection, revealing that police seized two laptops, hard drives, and discs from his residence. The investigation uncovered a staggering 2,165 indecent images and videos involving children aged from as young as two to approximately twelve years old. Among these, 97 images were classified at level five, with one categorized at an extreme level five, which police believed depicted a genuine rape. The material included videos that initially appeared to be normal movies, such as a 'Lord of the Rings' film, but after about ten seconds, child pornography images would begin to appear, indicating a disturbing manipulation of otherwise innocent content.

Further concerns were raised by the fact that Fan’s collection showed an interest in material involving older children, coinciding with his employment at a school where he worked with older students. The court heard that Fan, who had no prior criminal record, was a skilled computer expert. He had set up a 'sophisticated' library system designed to facilitate quick access to his vile collection, demonstrating a calculated approach to his illegal activities.

Fan, residing on Hollingdean Road in Brighton, pleaded guilty to distributing nine indecent images and admitted to 21 charges of making indecent movies. His defense attorney, Jeffrey Lamb, argued that Fan’s interest stemmed from 'idle curiosity,' which over time developed into a compulsive behavior. Lamb emphasized that Fan was 'extremely remorseful and contrite,' stating that after his arrest, Fan remarked, 'In a strange way, being caught was kind of a relief.' Lamb also highlighted that Fan acknowledged having a problem and expressed a desire for help, asserting that his decision to become a teacher was not motivated by a desire to access children or act out scenes from the images he downloaded.

During the court proceedings, Fan’s parents and his girlfriend, Catherine Taylor, were present. Taylor expressed her support, vowing to stand by him and assist in his rehabilitation after his release. However, Judge Anthony Scott-Gall sentenced Fan to a lengthy prison term, condemning his obsession with the material. The judge remarked on the increasing prevalence of child pornography over the internet and its corrupting influence, stating, 'The prevalence of child porn over the internet increases almost on a daily basis and as it increases so does the depravity reflected.'

Fan was also handed a lifetime ban from working with children and was ordered to be placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register indefinitely, marking a severe legal consequence for his actions and a stark warning about the dangers of such criminal behavior.