KEVIN HESSELL FROM PENDEEN BUSTED WITH BABY ABUSE FOOTAGE IN TRURO

In January 2021, authorities uncovered a disturbing case involving Kevin Hessell, a man previously residing in Pendeen, who was found in possession of highly disturbing and illegal images depicting the sexual abuse of infants and young children. The investigation was initiated after the National Crime Agency (NCA) received crucial intelligence from a file-sharing company based in New Zealand, which flagged suspicious activity linked to Hessell’s online accounts.

On April 30 of the previous year, NCA officers executed a search warrant at Hessell’s residence in Pendeen, acting on the intelligence provided by the New Zealand-based company. The authorities traced the IP address associated with Hessell’s email to the indecent images and videos that had been shared on an international file-sharing platform. During the raid, Hessell attempted to destroy evidence by discarding a mobile phone into a kitchen bin. Despite this effort, the officers seized both the phone and a computer tower, which were later found to contain hundreds of illicit images and videos.

The material recovered from Hessell’s devices was deeply disturbing, comprising a total of 57 Category A images, including 21 videos, which depicted the most severe forms of child sexual abuse, including penetrative rape. Additionally, there were 44 Category B images, six of which were videos, and seven Category C images. The content included the sexual assault of babies, with some images explicitly showing infants being molested. The images and videos spanned from January 2014 to April 2020, indicating a prolonged period of offending.

Hessell, aged 50, pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children. His case was brought before Truro Crown Court, where he was remanded in custody at HMP Exeter due to the nature of the charges and the fact that he had no fixed address suitable for bail after leaving his home. Prosecutor Ramsay Quife detailed the severity of the case, emphasizing that these images represent real children, some of whom are babies, and that such offenses are extremely serious.

Judge Robert Linford sentenced Hessell to a three-year community order, which includes 30 days of rehabilitation requirements. Furthermore, Hessell was subjected to a seven-year sexual harm prevention order, aimed at protecting the public from any future offending. In his remarks, Judge Linford highlighted the gravity of the crimes, stating, “These images are not images that exist in the ether, they are real people. Some of them are images of babies being sexually molested. That’s someone’s daughter, granddaughter, niece being sexually abused and this is extremely serious offending.” The judge also noted that while community orders can be used where there is a reasonable prospect of rehabilitation, this would be the only occasion he would impose such a sentence for this type of offense.