GOSPORT PAEDOPHILE KRISTOFER WARD SENTENCED TO PRISON FOR DISTRIBUTING CHILD ABUSE IMAGES

In June 2014, Kristofer Ward, a 34-year-old sex offender from Gosport, was sentenced to prison after police uncovered a collection of indecent images and videos depicting children. Ward was apprehended when authorities executed a search at the Gosport residence where he was living as a lodger, following a tip-off. During the search, officers seized his computer equipment. It is important to note that there is no evidence suggesting the other people living at the property were involved or aware of Ward’s activities.

Examination of his digital devices revealed a disturbing collection, including 55 movies classified as level 5—the most severe category—depicting child rape and torture, some involving sadist acts. Additionally, ten movies were classified as level 4. The youngest victim identified was approximately 18 months old, with others aged up to around 15.

Portsmouth Crown Court heard that Ward had stored these movies in a folder labeled ‘hidden’ and used peer-to-peer file-sharing software. Although he had a device intended to prevent file sharing, the files were made accessible to others intermittently, with availability lasting anywhere from 19 seconds to several hours.

Ward, of Thorney Close, Fareham, pleaded guilty to multiple charges in November of the previous year, including 10 counts of distributing indecent images of a child, one count of making an indecent image, and five counts of possession. He was sentenced to two years and eight months in prison, and he was ordered to register as a sex offender indefinitely. Additionally, Ward must pay a victim surcharge of £120.

He received a Sex Offences Prevention Order, which restricts his internet usage and prohibits him from deleting browsing history on electronic devices.

Detective Sergeant Timothy Plummer, from the Paedophile Online Investigation Team, stated: “Hampshire Constabulary is committed in its ongoing fight against online offending against children, including the possession and distribution of indecent images, as each image contains a victim of child abuse somewhere in the world. This sentence acts as a deterrent to offenders in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, and we will continue to proactively detect and prosecute those responsible.”