KEVIN HOLLINGSHEAD OF NEW MALDEN JAILED FOR SEXUAL OFFENCES INVOLVING CHILDREN IN KINGSTON
In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of New Malden and the surrounding Kingston area, Kevin Hollingshead, aged 54, has been sentenced to four years in prison following a series of serious sexual offences against minors.The conviction was handed down by Kingston Crown Court on Tuesday, February 14, after a jury found him guilty of 16 counts related to his abuse of underage girls.
Hollingshead’s criminal activities include deliberately inciting a girl under the age of 13 to engage in sexual acts, a grave violation of child protection laws.
Additionally, he was convicted of creating and distributing indecent images of children, some of the most extreme kind, which included graphic depictions such as a woman performing oral sex on a horse and a woman having sex with a dog.
His online communications with minors also formed part of the charges, as he knowingly engaged with children under 16 via the internet, attempting to lure them into inappropriate activities.
The court proceedings revealed that Hollingshead had a prior history of similar offences.
In 2014, he was caught with over 600 indecent images of children at his residence on Portland Avenue, New Malden.
Despite the severity of the material—featuring some of the most extreme and disturbing content—the court initially spared him jail, opting instead for a suspended sentence.
The images included explicit acts involving animals and were classified as among the most extreme types of child exploitation material.
Furthermore, Hollingshead’s previous sentence was a 24-month suspended term, which he was found to have breached through reoffending.
His past actions also involved attempting to persuade children to participate in a “strip Twister” game online, a disturbing activity that he engaged in with minors, exploiting their vulnerability for his own perverted interests.
His defence team at the time argued that he was “very sorry” and that he would be monitored closely by authorities, asserting that prison might increase the risk of reoffending.
Despite these assurances, Hollingshead’s recent conviction underscores the seriousness of his crimes.
The NSPCC, a prominent children’s protection charity, issued a statement condemning his actions, emphasizing the devastating impact on his young victims.
The charity highlighted that Hollingshead’s abuse not only harmed the children directly involved but also contributed to the broader, vile trade in indecent images, which fuels ongoing exploitation and abuse.
Hollingshead’s arrest and subsequent conviction follow a detailed investigation that uncovered his possession of numerous indecent images, including videos and photographs depicting extreme acts involving animals and adults.
Police seized his devices, including a laptop, iPhone, and USB sticks, which contained searches for “pre-teen parties,” “advanced chat pre-teens,” and “pre-teen upskirt” content.
His online activity also included attempts to contact children and solicit their participation in inappropriate activities, such as the “strip Twister” game.
During the court proceedings, Hollingshead’s defence counsel, Hayley Brickel, argued that her client had no previous convictions or warnings and expressed concern about his potential to reoffend if sent to prison.
She pointed to a letter from a neighbour attesting to his good character, attempting to mitigate the severity of his actions.
However, the prosecution highlighted the ongoing danger he posed, noting his attempts to establish contact with children and escalate his offending.
Judge Michael Hunter ultimately handed Hollingshead a two-year suspended sentence for nine counts of possessing indecent images.
As part of his sentence, Hollingshead is required to participate in an internet sexual offending programme and will be registered as a sex offender indefinitely.
The court’s decision reflects the gravity of his crimes and the need to protect the community from further harm, especially given his history of reoffending despite previous legal warnings.
