KIM BEARSTEAD FROM HAVERHILL ESCAPES PRISON DESPITE CHILD PORNOGRAPHY CHARGES

In a case that has shocked the community of Haverhill, a man named Kim Bearstead, aged 55, narrowly avoided imprisonment after being found in possession of numerous indecent images of children. The incident came to light in February when Bearstead, who resides on Orkney Close in Haverhill, took his laptop to a local repair shop for servicing. The staff at the repair shop grew suspicious due to Bearstead’s persistent inquiries about the repair process, which prompted them to scrutinize his device more closely.

During their examination, the technicians discovered hundreds of inappropriate images stored on the hard drive of his laptop. These images depicted children aged between four and eleven engaged in sexual activities, with some showing children involved with adults. The police were promptly contacted after the discovery, leading to an investigation that uncovered a total of 550 images, including duplicates. The images ranged from less severe to more explicit, with some classified as Level 4 on the Copine scale, indicating a high level of sexual activity involving minors.

Kim Bearstead faced multiple charges in connection with these images. He admitted to 17 specimen charges, which included 16 counts of creating indecent images of children under 16 and one count of possessing such images. The charges were formally presented at Bury St Edmunds Magistrates’ Court in July. The court was informed that the images involved young girls aged from four to eleven, with most being classified as Level 1, the least severe category, although some reached Level 4, indicating more explicit content.

Despite the gravity of the charges, the magistrates determined that their sentencing powers were insufficient to impose a custodial sentence. Instead, at Ipswich Crown Court, Bearstead was sentenced to a three-year community order. This order includes mandatory supervision and participation in a sex offenders’ treatment program. Additionally, he was ordered to remain on the Sex Offenders’ Register for five years and was required to pay costs amounting to £300.

Kevin Lowson, the prosecutor, explained that the offences were uncovered after Bearstead’s laptop was brought in for repairs. The staff at the repair shop became suspicious due to his repeated contact and inquiries about the repair process. Once the images were discovered, the police were involved, leading to the charges. Mark Thompson, representing Bearstead, argued that the images were only viewed and not stored or shared, and that they were taken from a collection of 550 pictures, some of which were duplicates. He emphasized that Bearstead had no involvement in creating the images, which were all static photographs, and that he had no prior convictions.

Overall, the case highlights the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to combat child exploitation and the importance of vigilance in community settings. While Bearstead avoided prison, the court’s sentence reflects the serious nature of possessing and viewing such harmful material, and the legal system’s approach to dealing with offenders involved in child exploitation crimes.