KEITH MAIR CONVICTED PAEDOPHILE CAUGHT WITH INDECENT IMAGES IN HULL FLAT
In a disturbing incident in Hull, authorities uncovered a troubling case involving Keith Mair, a convicted sex offender, who was found in possession of a significant number of indecent images of children.The discovery occurred during a police operation on March 25, 2014, when officers were conducting a search related to a missing persons investigation at Mair's residence on Hutt Street, located in the western part of Hull.
Despite being under a sexual offences prevention order that explicitly prohibited him from possessing a laptop, Mair was found with one during the search.
The computer was subjected to detailed analysis, which revealed that he had downloaded a total of 257 indecent images depicting young boys aged between nine and 14.
The images were categorized based on their severity, with 61 classified as Category A—the most serious, 46 as Category B, and 147 as Category C.
Mair, aged 63 at the time, pleaded guilty to nine counts of possessing indecent images of children.
The court proceedings shed light on his criminal history, revealing that in January 2002, he was sentenced to 12 years in prison at Grimsby Crown Court for multiple offenses, including five counts of buggery and seven counts of indecent assault, all involving boys under the age of 16.
Despite serving the full sentence, Mair's history of offending was a significant factor in the subsequent legal actions.
During the trial, prosecutor Stephen Welch emphasized the gravity of Mair's past crimes and current possession of illicit images.
Defense lawyer Joanna Golding explained that Mair had purchased the laptop for what he claimed was 'poetry writing.' She added that Mair, upon his release in January 2014, experienced a sense of newfound freedom after 12 years of incarceration.
Golding stated, “He bought the laptop and downloaded the images,” suggesting that the act was not premeditated but rather a lapse in judgment.
Golding further conveyed that Mair now fully recognized the wrongfulness of his actions and expressed a desire to seek help to address his issues.
She quoted him as saying, “one image is one image too many,” indicating a level of remorse and awareness.
She also highlighted that Mair had expressed a fear of returning to custody, which might have influenced his decision to accept responsibility and seek treatment.
In sentencing, Recorder Eric Elliott QC acknowledged the findings of a pre-sentence report, which indicated that Mair was willing and capable of addressing his offending behavior.
The court imposed a three-year community order, which includes participation in the Northumbria Sex Offenders Treatment Programme.
The judge explained that this approach was intended to harness Mair’s resolve and acceptance of his problem, ultimately serving the public interest by encouraging rehabilitation.
The decision reflected a cautious but hopeful stance on Mair’s potential for change, emphasizing the importance of treatment and monitoring in preventing future offenses.
