KEITH SAYER FROM BASINGSTOKE SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEX ABUSE IMAGES AND MATERIALS

In September 2020, a disturbing case unfolded involving Keith Sayer, a resident of Basingstoke, who was found guilty of possessing an extensive collection of child sex abuse images and related materials. The court heard that Sayer had accumulated over 178,000 indecent images depicting children, including extremely disturbing content involving newborns and toddlers. These images were stored across a network of 19 devices, including USB sticks and hard drives, which he organized in a deliberate and systematic manner. This method of filing caused significant harm to children worldwide, as the images represented a vast and heinous market of exploitation.

It was revealed that Sayer’s collection began immediately after his release from prison, where he had previously been convicted for possessing indecent images of children. In 2014, he received a sentence of 16 months for that offense. Despite this, he continued his illicit activities, which he openly admitted to a psychiatrist, describing himself as “sick” and “obsessed.” He confessed to spending up to five hours daily viewing these images and movies, indicating a compulsive and deeply troubling pattern of behavior.

At the time of his latest arrest, Sayer, formerly residing on Bolton Crescent in South Ham, was also found in possession of six paedophile manuals. Police also discovered various items linked to his illicit interests, including cable ties, masking tape, bungee ties, children’s coloring sets, and a newspaper article about a child abduction. These items were uncovered during a police raid on his bedsit, as explained by prosecutor Sophie Chaplain during proceedings at Winchester Crown Court on Thursday.

The investigation was initiated after police received a tip-off in April 2019, indicating someone was accessing indecent images of children. Authorities traced the activity to Sayer through two IP addresses involved in searching for such content. When police executed a search warrant at his residence, Sayer led officers to a cupboard hidden under a sink, where he had concealed multiple devices. Notably, he was under a Sex Offenders Protection Order (SOPO) that prohibited him from using such devices, a restriction imposed following his previous conviction.

Upon examining the devices, authorities discovered a meticulously organized and deliberate filing system containing over 10,000 images classified as Category A, which includes the most severe forms of abuse such as penetrative acts and sadism involving children or animals. The police also found more than 1,000 movies stored on his devices, further illustrating the extent of his illegal collection. Sayer’s use of the TOR browser was also noted, a tool that enables users to access the dark web and conceal their online activities, raising concerns about his attempts to evade detection.

During the court hearing, Sayer appeared via video link from Lewes prison in East Sussex. His defense argued that he had little else to occupy his time, claiming he had no employment or ambitions, and that his obsession with viewing child abuse images was a significant factor in his actions. Defense counsel Rose Burns emphasized this point, suggesting a lack of other interests or productive pursuits.

However, the presiding judge, Recorder Adam Feest, emphasized the severity of Sayer’s offenses and decided to impose a sentence longer than the guidelines suggested. He stated, “It is sometimes said that people who view images of child abuse don’t cause harm to children, but that is incorrect. Anyone who has images of children being raped is creating a market for those images, which in turn harms children across the world. The quantity of images involving the rape of babies and children makes the harm immeasurable for me to quantify.”

Sayer was sentenced to a total of 32 months in prison for six charges of making indecent images, with the sentence discounted due to his early guilty plea. Additionally, he received a two-year sentence for breaching the SOPO, to be served consecutively. For possessing the six paedophile manuals, he was given a further six months, also to be served consecutively. This resulted in a total prison term of three years and two months. The judge noted, however, that Sayer is likely to serve only half of that time.

Furthermore, the court imposed an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order, which includes automatic disqualification from working with children. The court also ordered the forfeiture and destruction of all the images and manuals found in his possession. Sayer was additionally required to pay a victim surcharge as part of his sentence, underscoring the serious nature of his crimes and the ongoing threat posed by his actions.