KEVIN THOMPSON FROM GRAVESEND ESCAPES JAIL AFTER CHILD PORNOGRAPHY DISCOVERY
| Red Rose Database
Gravesend Child Sexual Abuser
In October 2009, Kevin Thompson, a police officer residing in Gravesend, found himself at the center of a disturbing investigation that revealed a troubling secret hidden within his personal digital collection. The case came to light after authorities uncovered that Thompson had amassed a significant collection of indecent images involving minors, specifically teenage girls. The investigation was initially triggered when Thompson was suspected of selling police force equipment on the online auction platform eBay, which led to a broader scrutiny of his activities.
During the subsequent legal proceedings at Southwark Crown Court, it was revealed that Thompson, aged 32 and a former soldier, had downloaded nearly 1,000 images depicting young girls in various states of undress. These images included photographs of teenage girls posing nude or semi-nude, which the court described as indicative of a perverted interest. The judge, James Gledhill, QC, presided over the case and delivered a sentencing that reflected the seriousness of the charges, yet also considered Thompson’s background and the relatively low level of the images involved.
Thompson was charged with making indecent images of children, to which he pleaded guilty. He was not convicted of the more serious charges related to downloading explicit images, as those counts were allowed to remain on the court record without a conviction. The court heard that Thompson, a married man, had been under investigation for the sale of Metropolitan Police vests on eBay, which initially drew attention to his online activities.
In his sentencing, Judge Gledhill emphasized the breach of trust and the shame associated with Thompson’s actions. He stated, “You should be ashamed of yourself. You have served your country for the best part of your adult life, first of all in the army and then in the police force. You have fallen short of the high standard that the public can expect of a serving police officer.” The judge also expressed his disapproval of Thompson’s apparent perverted interests, noting, “It is quite clear to me that you have a perverted interest in looking at images of teenage girls posing naked or semi-naked.”
While acknowledging the gravity of the offense, Judge Gledhill decided against imposing a custodial sentence, citing the relatively low level of the images involved. Instead, he ordered Thompson to complete a 12-month community order, including 180 hours of unpaid work. Additionally, Thompson was ordered to pay £800 in court costs and was placed on the sex offenders’ register for five years. The judge’s decision underscored the importance of rehabilitation and the recognition that, despite the severity of the misconduct, a non-custodial sentence was deemed appropriate in this case.
During the subsequent legal proceedings at Southwark Crown Court, it was revealed that Thompson, aged 32 and a former soldier, had downloaded nearly 1,000 images depicting young girls in various states of undress. These images included photographs of teenage girls posing nude or semi-nude, which the court described as indicative of a perverted interest. The judge, James Gledhill, QC, presided over the case and delivered a sentencing that reflected the seriousness of the charges, yet also considered Thompson’s background and the relatively low level of the images involved.
Thompson was charged with making indecent images of children, to which he pleaded guilty. He was not convicted of the more serious charges related to downloading explicit images, as those counts were allowed to remain on the court record without a conviction. The court heard that Thompson, a married man, had been under investigation for the sale of Metropolitan Police vests on eBay, which initially drew attention to his online activities.
In his sentencing, Judge Gledhill emphasized the breach of trust and the shame associated with Thompson’s actions. He stated, “You should be ashamed of yourself. You have served your country for the best part of your adult life, first of all in the army and then in the police force. You have fallen short of the high standard that the public can expect of a serving police officer.” The judge also expressed his disapproval of Thompson’s apparent perverted interests, noting, “It is quite clear to me that you have a perverted interest in looking at images of teenage girls posing naked or semi-naked.”
While acknowledging the gravity of the offense, Judge Gledhill decided against imposing a custodial sentence, citing the relatively low level of the images involved. Instead, he ordered Thompson to complete a 12-month community order, including 180 hours of unpaid work. Additionally, Thompson was ordered to pay £800 in court costs and was placed on the sex offenders’ register for five years. The judge’s decision underscored the importance of rehabilitation and the recognition that, despite the severity of the misconduct, a non-custodial sentence was deemed appropriate in this case.